Cloacal virome of an ancient host lineage – The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) – Reveals abundant and diverse diet-related viruses

Waller, Stephanie J.; Lamar, Sarah K.; Perry, Benjamin J.; Grimwood, Rebecca M; Holmes, Edward C.; Geoghegan, Jemma L.

doi:10.1016/j.virol.2022.08.012

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(63 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Following previous virome studies based on non-invasive samples (A Duarte et al , 2019; Bodewes et al , 2014; Wang et al , 2019), we characterized the viral metagenomic of fecal samples of C. jacchus x C. penicillata hybrids, the first virome analysis from introduced free-living marmosets. Consistent with the observation that it is particularly challenging to identify virus-host associations from fecal samples using HTS (Ge et al, 2012; Waller et al, 2022; Wang et al, 2019) , we identified two new likely dietary-related viruses from the Parvoviridae and Baculoviridae families, both related to insect hosts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Metagenomic analysis reveals novel dietary-related viruses in the gut virome of marmosets hybrids (Callithrix jacchus x Callithrix penicillata), Brazil

Miranda

Schiffler

D’arc

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Viral metagenomics has contributed enormously to the characterization of a wide range of viruses infecting animals of all phyla in the last decades. Among Neotropical primates, especially those free-living introduced, knowledge about viral diversity remains poorly studied. Therefore, through the use of metagenomics based on virus enrichment, we the aim of this study was to explored the viral microbiota present in the feces of introduced common marmosets (Callithrix sp.) in three locations from the Silva Jardim region in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fecal samples were collected from nine marmosets, pooled into three sample pools and sequenced on Illumina MiSeq platform. Sequence reads were analyzed using a viral metagenomic analysis pipeline and two novel insect viruses belonging to the Parvoviridae and Baculoviridae families were identified. The complete genome of a densovirus (Parvoviridae family) of 5,309 nucleotides (nt) was obtained. The NS1 and VP1 proteins share lower than 32% sequence identity with the corresponding proteins of known members of the subfamily Densovirinae. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that this virus represents a new genus, named Tritonambidensovirus due to telomeric structures at the 3' and 5' ends of the genome. The novel species received the name Fecalis tritonambidensovirus 1. The complete circular genome of a baculovirus of 107,191 nt was also obtained, showing 60.8% sequence identity with the most closely-related member of the Baculoviridae family. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that this virus represents a new species of Betabaculovirus, named Callithrix fecalis granulovirus. In addition, sequences from several families of arthropods in the three pools evaluated were characterized (contigs ranging from 244 to 6,750 nt), corroborating the presence of possible insect hosts with which these new viruses may be associated. Our study expands the knowledge about two viral families known to infect insects, an important component of the marmosets' diet. This identification in hosts' feces samples demonstrates one of the many uses of this type of data and could serve as a basis for future research characterizing viruses in wildlife using noninvasive samples.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Metagenomic analysis reveals novel dietary-related viruses in the gut virome of marmosets hybrids (Callithrix jacchus x Callithrix penicillata), Brazil

Miranda

Schiffler

D’arc

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These differences may not reflect significant repercussions for tuatara health, but may give us more information about how tuatara obtain, select and maintain a gut microbial community. This first look at the tuatara bacterial community gives us a glimpse into a microbiome potentially shared with ancient relatives, distinct from that of other reptiles and reiterates the status of tuatara as hosts of an unusual microbiome and immune system (Middleton et al., 2015; Waller et al., 2022). Tuatara are remarkable animals, which the indigenous Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand recognise as keepers of great knowledge and guardians of sacred places (Cree, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Endemic to New Zealand, they are evolutionarily distinct, as a monotypic species which has not speciated and has morphologically evolved very little over the ~84 million years since the continent of Zealandia (containing New Zealand) split from Gondwana (Gemmell et al., 2020; Mortimer et al., 2019). One might surmise that during this time tuatara have developed a unique microbiota, and indeed, this is suggested by the number of novel viruses present in the tuatara gut (Waller et al., 2022). The evolutionary status of tuatara represents an opportunity to examine phylosymbiosis—‘microbial community relationships that recapitulate the phylogeny of their host’ (Lim & Bordenstein, 2020)—of the reptile community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut microbiome of the sole surviving member of reptile order Rhynchocephalia reveals biogeographic variation, influence of host body condition and a substantial core microbiota in tuatara across New Zealand

Hoffbeck,

Middleton,

Lamar

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tuatara are the sole extant species in the reptile order Rhynchocephalia. They are ecologically and evolutionarily unique, having been isolated geographically for ~84 million years and evolutionarily from their closest living relatives for ~250 million years. Here we report the tuatara gut bacterial community for the first time. We sampled the gut microbiota of translocated tuatara at five sanctuaries spanning a latitudinal range of ~1000 km within Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as individuals from the source population on Takapourewa (Stephens Island). This represents a first look at the bacterial community of the order Rhynchocephalia and provides the opportunity to address several key hypotheses, namely that the tuatara gut microbiota: (1) differs from those of other reptile orders; (2) varies among geographic locations but is more similar at sites with more similar temperatures and (3) is shaped by tuatara body condition, parasitism and ambient temperature. We found significant drivers of the microbiota in sampling site, tuatara body condition, parasitism and ambient temperature, suggesting the importance of these factors when considering tuatara conservation. We also derived a ‘core’ community of shared bacteria across tuatara at many sites, despite their geographic range and isolation. Remarkably, >70% of amplicon sequence variants could not be assigned to known genera, suggesting a largely undescribed gut bacterial community for this ancient host species.

show abstract

“…These could be population‐specific bacterial and viral infections, temperature and climatic stress, or social and territorial competition. Broadscale screening for bacterial and viral infections in tuatara has not been carried out on North Brother Island, but previous work has identified the blood parasite Hepatozoon tuatarae (Godfrey et al, 2011) and many diet‐related viruses in tuatara sampled on Takapourewa (Waller et al, 2022). The prevalence of these infections in other populations, and the extent of their impact on tuatara physiology, are both unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevalence of these infections in other populations, and the extent of their impact on tuatara physiology, are both unknown. However, neither are thought to impact tuatara BCI significantly (Godfrey et al, 2011; Waller et al, 2022). There is also likely density‐dependent competition restricting growth of tuatara living on North Brother Island, exacerbated by a growing male‐bias in the population (Grayson et al, 2014; Nelson et al, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of annual cycle, source population, and body condition on leukocyte profile and immune challenge in a basal reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

Lamar,

Frank,

La Flamme

et al. 2023

J Exp Zool Pt A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leukocyte profiles are broadly used to assess the health status of many species. Reference intervals, and an understanding of the factors that may influence these intervals, are necessary for adequate interpretation of leukograms. Using a data set that spans over three decades, we investigated variation in leukocyte profile in several populations of the evolutionarily unique reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). To do this, we first established reference intervals for each leukocyte type according to best practices. Next, we determined that source population and sampling date were the two most important predictors of leukocyte makeup. We found significant differences in the ratio of heterophils: lymphocytes (H:L) between populations, with tuatara on the more resource‐stressed sampling island having a significantly higher ratio of H:L. Finally, we found that sampling location, sex, and life stage did not explain variation in the responses of tuatara to stimulation with Concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide in both 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐di‐phenyltetrazolium bromide and Griess assay experiments. Our results offer important insight into the function of leukocytes in reptiles.

show abstract

Cloacal virome of an ancient host lineage – The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) – Reveals abundant and diverse diet-related viruses

Cited by 12 publications

References 46 publications

Metagenomic analysis reveals novel dietary-related viruses in the gut virome of marmosets hybrids (Callithrix jacchus x Callithrix penicillata), Brazil

Metagenomic analysis reveals novel dietary-related viruses in the gut virome of marmosets hybrids (Callithrix jacchus x Callithrix penicillata), Brazil

Gut microbiome of the sole surviving member of reptile order Rhynchocephalia reveals biogeographic variation, influence of host body condition and a substantial core microbiota in tuatara across New Zealand

The effects of annual cycle, source population, and body condition on leukocyte profile and immune challenge in a basal reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About