Here is something to distract you from the gloom: What can metagenomics tell us about the taxonomic composition of lichen symbioses? A peer-reviewed version of our analysis of >400 lichen metagenomes from around the world is now out in @PLOSBiology 1/12 doi.org/10.1371/jour... 🧬 🖥️ 🧪 🦠 🧫 #SymbioSky - ThreadSky

metalichen.bsky.social • 225 days ago

Here is something to distract you from the gloom: What can metagenomics tell us about the taxonomic composition of lichen symbioses? A peer-reviewed version of our analysis of >400 lichen metagenomes from around the world is now out in @PLOSBiology 1/12 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002862
🧬 🖥️ 🧪 🦠 🧫 #SymbioSky

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spribille.bsky.social•215 days ago

@stcmicrobeblog.bsky.social up your alley

stcmicrobeblog.bsky.social•215 days ago

christoph: good to finally see you here, toby 👏

(look what I brought from faial island, açores, this year 👇 the photos, of course, not the beauties)

spribille.bsky.social•215 days ago

* lets out audible gasp *

spribille.bsky.social•200 days ago

@plosbiology.bsky.social

metalichen.bsky.social•225 days ago

We aimed to create a census of lichen-associated organisms based on shotgun
metagenomics, and unaffected by biases related to culturing and PCR amplification. From 413 existing lichen metagenomes + new data, we extracted 1000 genomes of fungi, algae, and bacteria 2/12

metalichen.bsky.social•225 days ago

With metagenomics, you get what you pay for. In shallowly-sequenced metagenomes even well-recognized algal symbionts can fail to yield a genome. Solution #1: screen data for rRNA marker genes for improved detection. Solution #2: know the limits of inference for your data 3/12

metalichen.bsky.social•225 days ago

Surprisingly, the majority of lichen bacteria came from just four families. They accounted for as many occurrences as all other 71 families combined and were detected in samples collected by different labs on different continents 4/12

metalichen.bsky.social•225 days ago

A single bacterial genus - Lichenihabitans from Rhizobiales - occurred in ~1/3 of all lichens sampled. This bacterium has been reported from several lichens before, but now we know it is ubiquitous. Other frequent genera included Lichenicoccus and Lichenicola 5/12

metalichen.bsky.social•225 days ago

What do these super-frequent bacteria do in lichens? We annotated their genomes and found no evidence for their ability to fix nitrogen, contrary to a long-standing hypothesis. We did find evidence that many bacteria can do anoxygenic photosynthesis - and the majority produce cofactors 6/12

metalichen.bsky.social•225 days ago

To investigate potential vitamin-based interdependence, we annotated the genomes of the eukaryotic lichen symbionts, and found that many of them require B vitamins - which is supported by earlier studies on cultures. Could lichen bacteria supply them with vitamins? 7/12

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