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PubMed2026

theBIGbam: compression and interactive exploration of large-scale sequencing alignments with circular mapping support.

SUMMARY: theBIGbam (github.com/bhagavadgitadu22/theBIGbam) is a genome browser and alignment viewer designed for massive metagenomic and metatranscriptomic datasets. The tool takes BAM files containing read alignments, together with genome assemblies in FASTA format or annotated genome sequences in GenBank format. Alternatively, it can start from raw FASTQ reads and generate alignments using a modified mapper that supports circular genomes, enabling seamless read mapping across genome ends. theBIGbam can compress hundreds of gigabytes of input files 10- to 100-fold into dedicated databases while retaining key per-position information, including coverage depth and recurrent mismatches, insertions, and deletions between reads and the reference. These databases can be served to a local web browser, enabling interactive exploration of any contig in any sample using DNAFeaturesViewer for genome maps and Bokeh for mapping-derived features. Contig-sample pairs available for visualization can be filtered using a range of summary metrics calculated per contig, per sample, and per contig-sample pair to guide users toward the most relevant signals. Through its interactive visualization, theBIGbam facilitates the exploration of complex datasets, while its integrated database-combining assembly features, annotated features, and mapping-derived features-provides the information needed to investigate biological hypotheses systematically. Designed to complement existing browsing tools like IGV and Anvi'o, theBIGbam is particularly suited for examining misassemblies, subpopulations, microdiversity, and contig topology in large-scale datasets. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: theBIGbam is an open-source Rust/Python package that can be installed from Bioconda or PyPI. The source code and documentation are available on GitHub (github.com/bhagavadgitadu22/theBIGbam).

Software↗

PubMed2026

Pseudomonas aeruginosa adaptation and persistence in the aspergilloma microbiome revealed by integrated multi-omics.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis involves the formation of a fungal ball (aspergilloma) in lung cavities. Pseudomonas aeruginosa commonly co-colonizes these lesions; however, the in vivo mechanisms underlying its persistence are unknown. Using a multi-omics approach on resected aspergillomas, we defined the genomic, transcriptional, and metabolic adaptations of P. aeruginosa within this polymicrobial niche. We reconstructed high-quality P. aeruginosa genomes and identified a conserved core genome, along with accessory genes for secondary metabolism, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance. Phylogenomics revealed heterogeneous evolutionary paths among co-colonizing strains. Metatranscriptomics showed stark physiological heterogeneity, from metabolically aggressive to stress-adapted states. High expression of phenazine, quorum-sensing (PQS), siderophore, and secretion-system operons was corroborated by metabolomic detection of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and 2-heptylquinolin-4(1H)-one, confirming active bacterial antagonism in vivo. Concurrent Aspergillus fumigatus transcriptomics revealed the activation of oxidative stress responses, secondary metabolism (eg fumagillin), and iron scavenging, demonstrating reciprocal competition. Host transcriptomics revealed patient-specific immune signatures that correlated with the metabolic activity of the co-colonizers. This work provides an integrated systems-level analysis of the tri-kingdom aspergilloma ecosystem. P. aeruginosa persistence is driven by genomic plasticity and context-dependent expression of competitive pathways, shaped within a chronic inflammatory environment. These findings redefine aspergillomas as active polymicrobial consortia, establishing a framework for targeting resilient microbial communities in chronic lung disease.

Multiomics↗

PubMed2026

Phylum-wide propionate degradation and its potential connection to poly-gamma-glutamate biosynthesis in Candidatus Cloacimonadota phylum.

The candidate phylum Cloacimonadota is frequently detected in anoxic environments such as anaerobic digestion (AD) reactors, hydrothermal vents, and deep-sea sediments, yet its metabolism remains poorly understood. Metagenomic evidence suggests capacities for amino acid fermentation, carbohydrate degradation, as well as a potential role in syntrophic propionate oxidation (SPO), a key bottleneck in AD. However, a complete methylmalonyl-CoA (mmc) pathway, central to SPO, has not been previously identified in Cloacimonadota genomes. Here, we report results from an acidified lab-scale anaerobic baffled reactor fed with sugar beet pulp, where an increase in the relative abundance of Cloacimonadota correlated with recovery of methanogenesis, resulting in increased methane content in the produced biogas. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses enabled metabolic reconstruction of the dominant Cloacimonadota operational taxonomic unit (OTU). Furthermore, using a curated database of 204 genome-resolved Cloacimonadota species, we characterized the phylum-level metabolic potential. Comparative genomics revealed alternative proteins, including 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase and aspartate aminotransferase, likely to substitute for missing enzymes in the classical mmc pathway. These proteins were widely distributed and highly conserved across the analyzed Cloacimonadota genomes, suggesting that this variant of the SPO pathway could represent a phylum-specific trait. Moreover, we hypothesize that these alternative pathway steps may link propionate metabolism to protein degradation and poly-γ-glutamate biosynthesis. Network analysis identified the methanogenic archaeon Methanothrix as a potential syntrophic partner, an interaction further supported by propionate-fed enrichment cultures showing co-occurrence of Cloacimonadota and Methanothrix species. Our study sheds light on the Cloacimonadota metabolism, advancing our understanding of their ecological roles and potential for biotechnological applications.

Propionates↗

PubMed2026

Discovery of the order 'Quisvirales' redefines the evolution of RNA replication and transcription in the phylum Pisuviricota.

Genome replication in positive-stranded RNA (ssRNA+) viruses is mediated by cognate enzymes, including ubiquitous RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). In ssRNA+ viruses with multiple open reading frames (ORFs) in their genomes, replication often is accompanied by synthesis of subgenomic RNAs (transcription) for expression of 3'-proximal ORFs. In addition, all ssRNA+ viruses with genomes larger than ~7 kb encode helicases, linking helicases to RNA genome expansion. Helicases are essential ATPases that unwind nucleic acids and are classified into six recognized superfamilies (SF1-SF6). In the phylum Pisuviricota that includes important pathogens, helicases of SF1-SF3 are integrated into multi-enzyme replicase polyprotein(s) including 3C(-like) protease (3CLpro) and RdRp. Here, large-scale mining of invertebrate metatranscriptomes and targeted genome sequence assembly uncovered six spider-associated ssRNA+ viruses that, based on their conserved 3CLpro-RdRp module in replicase polyproteins, genome size (20-22 kb), and phylogeny, form a family-like cluster in a putative order, named 'Quisvirales'. Quisviruses have similar genome and replicase architectures to enveloped coronaviruses and other nidoviruses. Notably, quisviruses encode ORFs 1a and 1b with predicted -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting elements in the ORF1a/b overlap region. Using an original mapping approach for detecting chimeric sequencing reads, we obtained evidence that 3'-proximal ORFs are expressed via 5'-coterminal, leader-containing subgenomic RNAs. This suggests that the quisvirus subgenomic RNAs are generated through discontinuous transcription-a mechanism otherwise exclusively found in nidoviruses among the many ssRNA+ virus orders that synthesize subgenomic RNAs. Striking differences between nido- and quisviruses are, however, the RdRp being the only common core ORF1b-encoded enzyme and the replacement of the nidovirus SF1 helicase by a novel superfamily helicase. This quisvirus SF7 helicase, like the Picornavirales SF3 helicase, comprises an AAA+ (ATPase-like) domain typical for ring-forming helicases and thus must play an essential role in replication. The discovery of the order 'Quisvirales' demonstrates that viruses employing large replicase polyproteins of nidovirus-like complexity and discontinuous transcription may have evolved repeatedly from an 3CLpro-RdRp-encoding ancestor.

AAA+/RecA-like ATPase↗

PubMed2025

Exploring the Virome of Blackberry and Wild Rubus spp. in South Carolina.

Numerous viruses infect blackberry, and they are associated with virus disease complexes with complicated etiologies. Blackberry virus diseases limit the lifespan of blackberry production in the Southeastern United States. Although some previous research has been conducted to understand which viruses are prevalent in South Carolina, a comprehensive study on the virome of blackberry has not been done in this region. Additionally, the role of wild Rubus as a virus inoculum source is likely underappreciated and represents a potential opportunity for disease management. We took a comprehensive approach to characterize viral genome sequences from known and novel viruses using metatranscriptomic sequencing of blackberry and wild Rubus spp. leaf samples collected in 2021 from eight sites across South Carolina. We detected 17 known and 6 novel plant viruses and describe relevant genome sequence information. Although the etiologies of these novel viruses are yet to be elucidated, they should be considered part of the blackberry/wild Rubus virome and further studied. We describe instances of potential connectivity of virus populations between cultivated blackberry and wild Rubus for several viruses at several sites. In addition to plant viruses, we describe numerous viruses likely associated with foliar fungi, referred to as Rubus leaf-associated viruses. This study revealed a diverse landscape of both known and novel viruses in blackberry and wild Rubus in South Carolina and has stimulated topics for future research, such as temporal analyses of virus spread at the landscape scale and investigating potential vectors and the biological relevance of novel viruses.

crop↗

PubMed2026

DNA sequencing for microbial surveillance in cystic fibrosis airways: advances, challenges, and clinical translation.

SUMMARYDNA sequencing has revolutionized microbial surveillance in cystic fibrosis (CF), transforming pathogen identification from culture-dependent to total microbial community identification using molecular-based approaches. Techniques such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing have uncovered the complexity of the CF airway microbiome, while shotgun metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and viromics now provide strain-level, functional, and viral insights beyond bacterial identification. Despite these advances, key technical and logistical challenges remain, including the processing of high-viscosity sputum samples, overwhelming host DNA contamination, managing large data sets, and the integration of complex bioinformatic outputs into clinical workflows. Emerging innovations such as host DNA depletion protocols, targeted enrichment panels, and adaptive sampling on Oxford Nanopore platforms are helping to overcome these barriers, improving microbial recovery and sequencing efficiency. As cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies are changing the lives of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), sequencing offers an unprecedented opportunity to track potential microbial adaptation in response. This review investigates current advances, limitations, and translational opportunities in DNA sequencing for CF airway microbiome surveillance, highlighting how these technologies can help reshape research and clinical microbiology in the post-modulator era.

Cystic Fibrosis↗

PubMed2026

The coding-complete genome sequence of Arabidopsis latent virus 1 from Iraq.

Here, we report the coding-complete genome sequence of Arabidopsis latent virus 1 (ArLV1; Comovirus arabidopsis) from Iraq. The virus was identified by metatranscriptomic sequencing of asymptomatic cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves harboring thrips collected from commercial greenhouses. The bipartite genome comprises RNA1 (5,553 nt) and RNA2 (3,582 nt).

Arabidopsis latent virus 1↗

PubMed2026

Integrative analysis of rumen microbiota activity and host metabolism following methanogenesis inhibition in dairy cattle.

Enteric methane emission from dairy cattle is an environmental challenge. The most efficient mitigation strategies nowadays include the use of methanogenesis inhibitors that specifically target the rumen methanogens. Specific inhibitors, such as 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), reduce methane emissions without negative effects on the products of fermentation that serve as energy metabolites for the host. However, the concomitant effects of methanogenesis inhibition on rumen microbiota and host metabolism are poorly characterized. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the association between rumen microbiota and host metabolism when methanogenesis is inhibited. Thirteen dairy cows were used as controls, and 12 were supplemented with 3-NOP for 6 weeks. Rumen microbiota composition and activity were characterized using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. The host metabolism was assessed in a previous publication by a metabolomic analysis of the plasma. Microbiota data were used as explanatory variables of the metabolome data in a multiblock sparse partial least squares analysis. Overall, the association between rumen microbiota and host metabolism was moderate. Notwithstanding this, a few downregulated transcripts related to glycolysis, hydrogen transfer, and protein synthesis, together with a decrease in the proportion of taxa of the Oscillospirales order, showed a correlation with host one-carbon metabolites (|r| > 0.6). These associations raised novel hypotheses that remain to be elucidated, especially with regard to the effects of dihydrogen on the accumulation of microbial glycolysis and methanogenesis metabolite intermediates.IMPORTANCEDairy cattle produce a substantial amount of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Several strategies have been designed to reduce methane production by targeting the rumen microbiota. One such strategy specifically inhibits methanogens with a molecule called 3-nitrooxypropanol. This study uses an integrative data analysis approach, combining rumen microbiota and host metabolome information, to explore the consequences of inhibiting methanogenesis on the holobiont. This provides additional holistic insight into the effect of methane mitigation strategies on dairy cattle.

Animals↗

PubMed2024

Transcriptional profiles of Microcystis reveal gene expression shifts that promote bloom persistence in in situ mesocosms.

Harmful algal blooms caused by cyanobacteria threaten aquatic ecosystems, the economy, and human health. Previous work has tried to identify the mechanisms that allow blooms to form, focusing on the role of nutrients. However, little is known about how introduced nutrients influence gene expression in situ. To address this knowledge gap, we used in situ mesocosms initiated with water experiencing a Microcystis bloom. We added pulses of nutrients that are commonly associated with anthropogenic sources to the mesocosms for 72 hours and collected samples for metatranscriptomics to examine how the physiological function of Microcystis and bloom status changed. The addition of nitrogen (N) as urea, but not the addition of PO4, resulted in conspicuous bloom persistence for at least 9 days after the final introduction of nutrients. The addition of urea initially resulted in the upregulation of photosynthesis machinery, as well as phosphate, carbon, and N transport and metabolism. Once Microcystis presumably became N-replete, upregulation of amino acid metabolism, microcystin biosynthesis, and other processes associated with biomass generation occurred. These capacities coincided with the upregulation of toxin-antitoxin systems, CRISPR-cas genes, and transposases suggesting that phage defense and genome rearrangement are critical in bloom persistence. Overall, our results show the stepwise transcriptional response of a Microcystis bloom to the introduction of nutrients, specifically urea, as it is sustained in a natural setting. The transcriptomic shifts observed herein may serve as markers of the longevity of blooms while providing insight into why Microcystis blooms over other cyanobacteria.IMPORTANCEHarmful algal blooms represent a threat to human health and ecosystems. Understanding why blooms persist may help us develop warning indicators of bloom persistence and create novel mitigation strategies. Using mesocosm experiments initiated with water with an active bloom, we measured the stepwise transcription changes of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium Microcystis in response to the addition of nutrients that are important in causing blooms. We found that nitrogen (N), but not phosphorus, promoted bloom longevity. The initial introduction of N resulted in the upregulation of genes involved in photosynthesis and N import. At later times in the bloom, upregulation of genes involved in biomass generation, phage protection, genomic rearrangement, and toxin production was observed. Our results suggest that Microcystis first fulfills nutritional requirements before investing energy in pathways associated with growth and protection against competitors, which allowed bloom persistence more than a week after the final addition of nutrients.

Microcystis↗

PubMed2026

Microbial DNA analysis of paired blood-bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in post-HSCT patients with pneumonia implying application conditions of blood as a surrogate in pathogen detection.

BACKGROUND: Blood testing aids pneumonia diagnosis, but its effectiveness varies. Given the invasiveness of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sampling versus blood testing's simplicity, this study investigates when blood can reliably substitute for BALF in detecting microbial presence, especially for pathogens. RESULTS: Metagenomic sequencing was performed on paired BALF-blood samples from 21 post-HSCT immunocompromised (ICP) and 21 immunocompetent (ICT) patients. The ICP cohort was expanded to 62 for biomarker validation. Host responses were profiled via metatranscriptomics (30 BALF samples). Microbial alpha and beta diversity differed significantly between blood and BALF in ICP, but not ICT, patients. ICP patients' BALF contained a greater diversity and abundance of microbes. A higher proportion of microbial DNA sequences in ICP patients' blood was also present in their BALF, suggesting a potentially more permeable alveolar-capillary barrier. Related genes (e.g., NABA CORE MATRISOME, extracellular matrix organization, cell-cell adhesion) were downregulated. Upregulated pathways like VEGFA-VEGFR2 signaling and Rho GTPases suggested increased vascular permeability. In ICP patients, 419 microbial sequences in blood indicated their presence in the lower respiratory tract with > 70% certainty. CONCLUSION: Host immune status significantly influences blood-BALF microbial diversity differences. Shared blood-BALF microbial DNA sequences show potential for aiding pneumonia pathogen diagnosis, offering a novel biomarker identification approach.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Experimental insights in taxon-specific functional responses to droughts in glacier-fed stream biofilms.

BACKGROUND: Glacier-fed streams are predicted to face increasingly frequent and intense droughts. However, the impacts of drought events on benthic biofilm, including bacteria, eukaryotes, and viruses, the dominating life form in glacier-fed streams, remain poorly understood. RESULTS: Using streamside flume mesocosms in the Swiss Alps, we grew glacier-fed stream biofilms over 103 days and exposed them to three droughts. Using a multi-omics approach (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics), we assessed the effects of a series of droughts on the taxonomy and metabolic activity of bacterial, eukaryotic, and viral metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). We found that the first drought (6 h) caused only minor changes, including mild upregulation of heterotrophic metabolism and signs of stress in diatoms. In contrast, the second drought (24 h) significantly altered both the composition and functionality of the microbiome, shifting phototrophic dominance from diatoms to Cyanobacteriota, while maintaining overall phototropic biomass and further upregulating the heterotrophic metabolism. Interestingly, a third 24 h drought had no detectable transcriptomic effect between pre- and post-drought conditions, suggesting a certain level of adaptive responses to droughts, but with the low diatom abundance being maintained. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that glacier-fed biofilm microorganisms initially resisted short-term drought, but a second longer drought caused important shifts in their community structure, activity, and function. Climate-induced increases in drought frequency or duration may therefore have a lasting impact on microbial ecosystem functioning in glacier-fed streams. Video Abstract.

Biofilms↗

PubMed2026

Microbial decomposer diversity and metabolic function during the decomposition of brine shrimp carcasses in a saline lake.

BACKGROUND: Decomposition of brine shrimp carcasses has a crucial role in carbon cycling of saline lakes, yet the microbial dynamics remain poorly understood. RESULTS: Here we integrated metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, culturomics, metabolomics, and microcosm experiments to investigate microbial community succession and function during brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) carcass decomposition in Barkol Lake, a hypersaline lake in China. A total of 149 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and 77 pure culture genomes were recovered across 33 phyla, with 72.12% genomes representing species-level novel lineages. Our results reveal diverse bacterial and archaeal taxa, including novel lineages from CG03, T1Sed10-126 and rare archaeal taxa (Asgardarchaeota, Thermoplasmatota, Nanoarchaeota, and Halobacteriota), involved in degradation of biomacromolecules-proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids-via extracellular hydrolysis, nutrient transport, and intracellular catabolism. These taxa exhibit substrate preferences, rapidly responding to the breakdown of polysaccharides and proteins, followed by lipids and nucleic acids. Hydrolyzed oligomers are further oxidized by various microbes through fermentation, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis via metabolic handoffs. Additionally, viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) further enhance microbial host functions, contributing to key ecological processes such as carbon cycling and stress response. A temporally structured microbial decomposer network (MDN) was observed, driving mineralization cascades from fermentation to sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals microbial metabolic handoffs and virus-mediated modulation as critical mechanisms for organic matter turnover, expanding the known diversity and function of decomposers in saline ecosystems. Our findings offer new insights into biogeochemical processes in saline lakes and highlight a synergistic microbial decomposer network involving bacteria, archaea, and viruses that collectively drive nutrient cycling during brine shrimp carcass decomposition. Video Abstract.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Establishing the ELIXIR Microbiome Community.

Microbiome research has grown substantially over the past decade in terms of the range of biomes sampled, identified taxa, and the volume of data derived from the samples. In particular, experimental approaches such as metagenomics, metabarcoding, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics have provided profound insights into the vast, hitherto unknown, microbial biodiversity. The ELIXIR Marine Metagenomics Community, initiated amongst researchers focusing on marine microbiomes, has concentrated on promoting standards around microbiome-derived sequence analysis, as well as understanding the gaps in methods and reference databases, and identifying solutions to the computational overheads of performing such analyses. Nevertheless, the methods used and the challenges faced are not confined to marine microbiome studies, but are broadly applicable to other biomes. Thus, expanding this Marine Metagenomics Community to a more inclusive ELIXIR Microbiome Community will enable it to encompass a broader range of biomes and link expertise across 'omics technologies. Furthermore, engaging with a large number of researchers will improve the efficiency and sustainability of bioinformatics infrastructure and resources for microbiome research (standards, data, tools, workflows, training), which will enable a deeper understanding of the function and taxonomic composition of the different microbial communities.

Computational Biology↗

PubMed2025

A new potential mosquito-borne virus: detection of Human-derived Jingmenvirus in several-species of mosquitoes from Yaoundé, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne Jingmenviruses are becoming an increasing arbovirus concern due to the rising number of reported infections in humans and animals, as well as their wide geographic distribution. The involvement of other hematophagous arthropods as vectors of Jingmenviruses is still unknown. METHODS: Mosquitoes were sampled in two different biotopes in Cameroon (Yaoundé and Garoua) during the rainy and the dry seasons in 2022 and 2023. Metatranscriptomics Next Generation Sequencing was conducted using Illumina technology. Viral sequences detection revealed the presence of several contigs with high sequence identity to a human-derived Jingmenvirus (HdJV) previously discovered in plasma from an individual from Yaoundé, Cameroon. A draft viral genome was constituted for each Jingmenvirus-positive samples. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstructions were used to position mosquito-associated viruses within the diversity of Jingmenviruses. Statistical analyses were conducted to estimate the prevalence of infected mosquitoes and the effect of different variables (region, season, year, mosquito species) on Jingmenvirus detection. RESULTS: HdJV was identified during the dry and the rainy seasons in 4 species of mosquitoes: Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex wansoni from Yaoundé, and Anopheles gambiae s.l. from Garoua. The overall prevalence of HdJV-infected mosquitoes was estimated to 0.90% [0.41-1.69]; and the unique variable significantly associated with HdJV detection was the sampling area: Yaoundé showed the highest prevalence (2.29% [0.95-4.68]) compared to Garoua (0.18% [0.01-0.79]). Mosquito-associated Jingmenviruses shared a high nucleotide identity (between 98.64-100% according to the segment) and clustered in the same clade in the phylogenetic analysis, that they belong to the same viral species circulating in different mosquito species. The viral genome shared between 96.4% and 98.9% nucleotide identity with a HdJV detected in the plasma of a patient suffering from febrile illness originating from the same area, suggesting the possible involvement of mosquitoes as vectors of arboviral Jingmenviruses in human infections. CONCLUSIONS: This finding provides new insights into the ecology and transmission dynamics of Jingmenviruses, highlighting mosquitoes as potential vectors, alongside ticks, in the zoonotic transmission of this virus group.

Jingmenvirus↗

PubMed2026

Evaluating sampling strategies for the detection of avian influenza viruses in the environment.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses pose an increasing threat to wildlife, livestock and human health, underscoring the need for scalable and early-warning surveillance systems. Environmental RNA (eRNA) monitoring offers a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to traditional host-based sampling by detecting viral genetic material shed into the environment. Despite its utility, the relative performance of different environmental sampling approaches for avian influenza virus (AIV) detection remains poorly resolved. Here, we conducted a longitudinal study with monthly sampling over approximately one year across two urban waterfowl ponds in Aotearoa New Zealand to evaluate four eRNA sampling strategies - fresh faeces, sediment, active-filtered water and passive-filtered water - for their ability to detect AIV. Using a combination of metagenomic sequencing and RT-qPCR, we show that all sample types can detect AIV, although detections were highly inconsistent across sampling methods, locations and time points. While metagenomic sequencing provided valuable genomic data, including subtype identification and phylogenetic context, RT-qPCR exhibited greater sensitivity, with active-filtered water yielding the highest detection rates, and is currently the more cost-effective approach for large-scale surveillance. Notably, AIV detections were asynchronous among sample types and frequently lacked temporal concordance, suggesting that environmental heterogeneity, RNA persistence, and methodological detection limits strongly influence surveillance outcomes. Despite these inconsistencies, phylogenetic analyses revealed that detected viruses belong to established Australasian lineages, highlighting the ability of environmental surveillance to capture ecologically relevant viral diversity. Our findings demonstrate that while eRNA-based surveillance holds substantial promise as a complementary tool for AIV monitoring, its effectiveness is highly dependent on the environmental sampling strategies and laboratory detection methods used.

Ducks↗

PubMed2025

Fungal and algal lichen symbionts show different transcriptional expression patterns in two climate zones.

In the lichen symbiosis, the fungal and algal partners constitute a closely integrated system. The combination of fungal and algal partners changes along climate gradients in many species, and is expected to be adaptive. However, the functional mechanisms behind this symbiosis-mediated environmental adaptation are unknown. We investigated which transcriptional profiles are associated with specific fungal-algal symbiont pairings found in lichens from high-elevation (Lower Supratemperate) and low-elevation (Lower Mesomediterranean) sites at two extremes of a climatic gradient on Mount Limbara, Sardinia. Using laboratory-acclimatized thalli, we found that lichen fungal and algal symbionts show variable expression profiles between high- and low-elevation individuals: circadian- and temperature-associated genes for fungi and light-responsive genes for algae show climate-specific patterns. High- and low-elevation individuals differentially express sugar transporters in both symbionts, pointing to symmetrical and climate-dependent sugar transport mechanisms between them. A light pulse treatment identified asymmetries between fungal and algal light responses, with high- and low-elevation fungal symbionts but only low-elevation algal symbionts showing a response. Together, these results tie previously observed genomic variation along climatic gradients in a lichen species to functional differences in transcription for the fungal and algal symbionts, contributing to our understanding of environmental specialization and niche-specific partner combinations in lichens.

Lichens↗

PubMed2026

Genomic characterization and phylogenetic placement of Matryoshka RNA virus 1 associated with Plasmodium vivax malaria in Africa.

Plasmodium vivax is a major cause of human malaria. It harbours Matryoshka RNA virus 1 (MaRNAV-1), a bi-segmented positive-sense RNA virus. MaRNAV-1 was first described in P. vivax and is now recognized as part of a wider group of Matryoshka viruses. These viruses also infect other haemosporidian parasites such as Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus. The presence of MaRNAV-1 in African-origin human P. vivax, however, has not been clearly established. This study investigated whether MaRNAV-1 is present in public African-origin P. vivax transcriptomic datasets. Any viral sequences recovered were characterized using comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses. A secondary in silico analysis targeted African-origin P. vivax RNA-seq runs from public repositories. Although the search covered Africa, only Ethiopian datasets could be confidently identified, retrieved and compiled at the time. After quality control and screening for MaRNAV-1 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) signals, three high-confidence runs were selected for further analysis. Reference-guided reconstruction, ORF prediction, blast-based validation and RdRp phylogenetic analysis were performed. MaRNAV-1 was identified in three Ethiopian P. vivax malaria transcriptomes. This was supported by strong segment-level mapping, near-complete coverage, high mean depth and minimal low-depth masking. The recovered genomes showed the expected bisegmented organization of MaRNAV-1. Segment I was highly conserved and encoded the canonical RdRp in all three consensus sequences. Segment II showed the conserved organization of two overlapping hypothetical ORFs in all three consensus sequences. Blast analyses confirmed close similarity to MaRNAV-1 reference sequences. Phylogenetic inference grouped the Ethiopian sequences within the broader P. vivax-associated MaRNAV-1 lineage, alongside other recognized MaRNAV lineages distinct from more divergent narna-like viruses. These findings provide genomic evidence for MaRNAV-1 in publicly available African-origin P. vivax transcriptomic datasets and add to the emerging evidence for the virus in the African malaria context.

MaRNAV↗

PubMed2026

Supplementation with effective microorganisms in earthen ponds affects common carp growth and abundance of specific bacterial families.

BACKGROUND: Effective microorganisms are increasingly explored in aquaculture to improve fish health and growth without leaving harmful residues. However, their efficacy in real-world pond environments remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted a 103-day field experiment to assess the effects of supplementation with two effective commercial microorganism products on the microbial communities and growth performance of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). BACKGROUND: Effective microorganisms were added to the feed and directly to the pond water. Microbial diversity was analysed via 16 S rRNA and whole-genome shotgun sequencing across three environments: water (three time points), sediment (two time points), and fish intestine (one time point) from 25 experimental ponds. Bioinformatics processing was performed using the QIIME2 and MG-TK pipelines with taxonomic classification based on the SILVA database. The results showed that although supplemented bacterial families did not establish significantly in pond environments, fish exposed to specific effective microorganism treatments showed improved growth metrics. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that effective microorganisms can increase carp growth in aquaculture without significantly altering the resident microbial communities, suggesting a promising residue-free alternative to traditional additives in aquaculture.

Animals↗