The parasitic lifestyle of an archaeal symbiont

Abstract DPANN archaea are a diverse group of microorganisms characterised by small cells and reduced genomes. To date, all cultivated DPANN archaea are ectosymbionts that require direct cell contact with an archaeal host species for growth and survival. However, these interactions and their impact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature Communications
Main Authors: Joshua N. Hamm, Yan Liao, Andriko von Kügelgen, Nina Dombrowski, Evan Landers, Christopher Brownlee, Emma M. V. Johansson, Renee M. Whan, Matthew A. B. Baker, Buzz Baum, Tanmay A. M. Bharat, Iain G. Duggin, Anja Spang, Ricardo Cavicchioli
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024
Subjects:
Science
Q
Antarc*
antarcticus
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49962-y
https://doaj.org/article/d026e971dbae49408b6521950bc55ea0
Description
Summary:Abstract DPANN archaea are a diverse group of microorganisms characterised by small cells and reduced genomes. To date, all cultivated DPANN archaea are ectosymbionts that require direct cell contact with an archaeal host species for growth and survival. However, these interactions and their impact on the host species are poorly understood. Here, we show that a DPANN archaeon (Candidatus Nanohaloarchaeum antarcticus) engages in parasitic interactions with its host (Halorubrum lacusprofundi) that result in host cell lysis. During these interactions, the nanohaloarchaeon appears to enter, or be engulfed by, the host cell. Our results provide experimental evidence for a predatory-like lifestyle of an archaeon, suggesting that at least some DPANN archaea may have roles in controlling host populations and their ecology.

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