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Gene cassette PCR: sequence-independent recovery of entire genes from environmental DNA.

ABSTRACT: The vast majority of bacteria in the environment have yet to be cultured. Consequently, a major proportion of both genetic diversity within known gene families and an unknown number of novel gene families reside in these uncultured organisms. Isolation of these genes is limited by lack of sequence information. Where such sequence data exist, PCR directed at conserved sequence motifs recovers only partial genes. Here we outline a strategy for recovering complete open reading frames from environmental DNA samples. PCR assays were designed to target the 59-base element family of recombination sites that flank gene cassettes associated with integrons. Using such assays, diverse gene cassettes could be amplified from the vast majority of environmental DNA samples tested. These gene cassettes contained complete open reading frames, the majority of which were associated with ribosome binding sites. Novel genes with clear homologies to phosphotransferase, DNA glycosylase, methyl transferase, and thiotransferase genes were identified. However, the majority of amplified gene cassettes contained open reading frames with no identifiable homologues in databases. Accumulation analysis of the gene cassettes amplified from soil samples showed no signs of saturation, and soil samples taken at 1-m intervals along transects demonstrated different amplification profiles. Taken together, the genetic novelty, steep accumulation curves, and spatial heterogeneity of genes recovered show that this method taps into a vast pool of unexploited genetic diversity. The success of this approach indicates that mobile gene cassettes and, by inference, integrons are widespread in natural environments and are likely to contribute significantly to bacterial diversity.

SUBMITTER: Stokes HW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC93296 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Gene cassette PCR: sequence-independent recovery of entire genes from environmental DNA.

Stokes H W HW Holmes A J AJ Nield B S BS Holley M P MP Nevalainen K M KM Mabbutt B C BC Gillings M R MR

Applied and environmental microbiology 20011101 11

The vast majority of bacteria in the environment have yet to be cultured. Consequently, a major proportion of both genetic diversity within known gene families and an unknown number of novel gene families reside in these uncultured organisms. Isolation of these genes is limited by lack of sequence information. Where such sequence data exist, PCR directed at conserved sequence motifs recovers only partial genes. Here we outline a strategy for recovering complete open reading frames from environme ...[more]

PMID: 11679351

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Project description:Clostridioides difficile represents a major burden to public health. As a well-known nosocomial pathogen whose occurrence is highly associated with antibiotic treatment, most examined C. difficile strains originated from clinical specimen and were isolated under selective conditions employing antibiotics. This suggests a significant bias among analyzed C. difficile strains, which impedes a holistic view on this pathogen. In order to support extensive isolation of C. difficile strains from environmental samples, we designed a detection PCR that targets the hpdBCA-operon and thereby identifies low abundances of C. difficile in environmental samples. This operon encodes the 4-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase, which catalyzes the production of the antimicrobial compound para-cresol. Amplicon-based analyses of diverse environmental samples demonstrated that the designed PCR is highly specific for C. difficile and successfully detected C. difficile despite its absence in general 16S rRNA gene-based detection strategies. Further analyses revealed the potential of the hpdBCA detection PCR sequence for initial phylogenetic classification, which allows assessment of C. difficile diversity in environmental samples via amplicon sequencing. Our findings furthermore showed that C. difficile strains isolated under antibiotic treatment from environmental samples were originally dominated by other strains according to PCR amplicon results. This provided evidence for selective cultivation of under-represented but antibiotic-resistant isolates. Thereby, we revealed a substantial bias in C. difficile isolation and research.IMPORTANCEClostridioides difficile is a main cause of diarrheic infections after antibiotic treatment with serious morbidity and mortality worldwide. Research on this pathogen and its virulence has focused on bacterial isolation from clinical specimens under antibiotic treatment, which implies a substantial bias in isolated strains. Comprehensive studies, however, require an unbiased strain collection, which is accomplished by isolation of C. difficile from diverse environmental samples and avoidance of antibiotic-based enrichment strategies. Thus, isolation can significantly benefit from our C. difficile-specific detection PCR, which rapidly verifies C. difficile presence in environmental samples and further allows estimation of the C. difficile diversity by using next-generation sequencing.

Project description:BackgroundIntegrons are genetic elements capable of the acquisition, rearrangement and expression of genes contained in gene cassettes. Gene cassettes generally consist of a promoterless gene associated with a recombination site known as a 59-base element (59-be). Multiple insertion events can lead to the assembly of large integron-associated cassette arrays. The most striking examples are found in Vibrio, where such cassette arrays are widespread and can range from 30 kb to 150 kb. Besides those found in completely sequenced genomes, no such array has yet been recovered in its entirety. We describe an approach to systematically isolate, sequence and annotate large integron gene cassette arrays from bacterial strains.ResultsThe complete Vibrio sp. DAT722 integron cassette array was determined through the streamlined approach described here. To place it in an evolutionary context, we compare the DAT722 array to known vibrio arrays and performed phylogenetic analyses for all of its components (integrase, 59-be sites, gene cassette encoded genes). It differs extensively in terms of genomic context as well as gene cassette content and organization. The phylogenetic tree of the 59-be sites collectively found in the Vibrio gene cassette pool suggests frequent transfer of cassettes within and between Vibrio species, with slower transfer rates between more phylogenetically distant relatives. We also identify multiple cases where non-integron chromosomal genes seem to have been assembled into gene cassettes and others where cassettes have been inserted into chromosomal locations outside integrons.ConclusionOur systematic approach greatly facilitates the isolation and annotation of large integrons gene cassette arrays. Comparative analysis of the Vibrio sp. DAT722 integron obtained through this approach to those found in other vibrios confirms the role of this genetic element in promoting lateral gene transfer and suggests a high rate of gene gain/loss relative to most other loci on vibrio chromosomes. We identify a relationship between the phylogenetic distance separating two species and the rate at which they exchange gene cassettes, interactions between the non-mobile portion of bacterial genomes and the vibrio gene cassette pool as well as intragenomic translocation events of integrons in vibrios.

Dataset Information

Gene cassette PCR: sequence-independent recovery of entire genes from environmental DNA.

Publications

Gene cassette PCR: sequence-independent recovery of entire genes from environmental DNA.

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