Salty Twins: Salt-Tolerance of Terrestrial Cyanocohniella Strains (Cyanobacteria) and Description of C. rudolphia sp. nov. Point towards a Marine Origin of the Genus and Terrestrial Long Distance Dispersal Patterns

Abstract

The ability to adapt to wide ranges of environmental conditions coupled with their long evolution has allowed cyanobacteria to colonize almost every habitat on Earth. Modern taxonomy tries to track not only this diversification process but also to assign individual cyanobacteria to specific niches. It was our aim to work out a potential niche concept for the genus Cyanocohniella in terms of salt tolerance. We used a strain based on the description of C. rudolphia sp. nov. isolated from a potash tailing pile (Germany) and for comparison C. crotaloides that was isolated from sandy beaches (The Netherlands). The taxonomic position of C. rudolphia sp. nov. was evaluated by phylogenetic analysis and morphological descriptions of its life cycle. Salt tolerance of C. rudolphia sp. nov. and C. crotaloides was monitored with cultivation assays in liquid medium and on sand under salt concentrations ranging from 0% to 12% (1500 mM) NaCl. Optimum growth conditions were detected for both strains at 4% (500 mM) NaCl based on morpho-anatomical and physiological criteria such as photosynthetic yield by chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements. Taking into consideration that all known strains of this genus colonize salty habitats supports our assumption that the genus might have a marine origin but also expands colonization to salty terrestrial habitats. This aspect is further discussed, including the ecological and biotechnological relevance of the data presented.

Metagenome-Assembled Genome of Cyanocohniella sp. LLY From the Cyanosphere of Llayta, an Edible Andean Cyanobacterial Macrocolony

“…Finally, two other isolates, SY-1-2-EE and SY-1-2-Y, from biological soil crusts at the surroundings of saline potash tailing piles, were assigned to the Cyanocohniella genus based on SSU rRNA and ITS sequences [46]. More recently, Jung et al [47] have point out that all known members of the Cyanocohniella genus have been isolated from salty habitats, this genus might have had a marine origin and expanded to colonize salty terrestrial habitats. Based on our work, strain Cyanocohniella sp.…”

“…Its reconstructed genome provided information on its putative capabilities for the biosynthesis of UV-absorbing molecules (mycosporine-like amino acids and scytonemin), Lasso peptides, microviridins, and the presence of CRISPR-CAS system operons. The assembled genome of strain LLY is now available for further inquiries, and may be instrumental for taxonomic advances on this genus as well as on its origin and spatio-temporal distribution [47,61]. All known members of the Cyanocohniella genus have only been isolated from salty European habitats; the existence of strain Cyanocohniella sp.…”

Metagenome-Assembled Genome of Cyanocohniella sp. LLY from the Cyanosphere of Llayta, an Edible Andean Cyanobacterial Macrocolony

“…Finally, two other isolates, SY-1-2-EE and SY-1-2-Y, from biological soil crusts in the surroundings of saline potash tailing piles, were assigned to the Cyanocohniella genus based on SSU rRNA and ITS sequences [ 49 ]. More recently, Jung et al [ 50 ] have point out that all known members of the Cyanocohniella genus have been isolated from salty habitats and this genus might have had a marine origin and expanded to colonize salty terrestrial habitats. Based on our work, strain Cyanocohniella sp.…”

“…Its reconstructed genome provided information regarding its putative capabilities for the biosynthesis of UV-absorbing molecules (mycosporine-like amino acids and scytonemin), Lasso peptides, microviridins, and the presence of CRISPR-CAS system operons. The assembled genome of strain LLY is now available for further inquiries and may be instrumental for taxonomic advances on this genus as well as concerning its origin and spatio-temporal distribution [ 50 , 58 ]. All known members of the Cyanocohniella genus have only been isolated from salty European habitats.…”

Albertania and Egbenema gen. nov. from Nigeria and the United States, expanding biodiversity in the Oculatellaceae (cyanobacteria)

“…Our Egbenema species also had low 16S rRNA gene similarity with each other, but this is almost an exception rather than the rule (Table 1). Often 16S rRNA gene data are insufficient for recognizing species, and it is the ITS rRNA region data that show lineage separation (Baldarelli et al, 2022;Becerra-Absalón et al, 2020;Johansen et al, 2014;Jung et al, 2020Jung et al, , 2022.…”