Complete genome sequence and analysis of Alcaligenes faecalis strain Mc250, a new potential plant bioinoculant

PLoS One. 2020 Nov 5;15(11):e0241546. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241546. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Here we present and analyze the complete genome of Alcaligenes faecalis strain Mc250 (Mc250), a bacterium isolated from the roots of Mimosa calodendron, an endemic plant growing in ferruginous rupestrian grasslands in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The genome has 4,159,911 bp and 3,719 predicted protein-coding genes, in a single chromosome. Comparison of the Mc250 genome with 36 other Alcaligenes faecalis genomes revealed that there is considerable gene content variation among these strains, with the core genome representing only 39% of the protein-coding gene repertoire of Mc250. Mc250 encodes a complete denitrification pathway, a network of pathways associated with phenolic compounds degradation, and genes associated with HCN and siderophores synthesis; we also found a repertoire of genes associated with metal internalization and metabolism, sulfate/sulfonate and cysteine metabolism, oxidative stress and DNA repair. These findings reveal the genomic basis for the adaptation of this bacterium to the harsh environmental conditions from where it was isolated. Gene clusters associated with ectoine, terpene, resorcinol, and emulsan biosynthesis that can confer some competitive advantage were also found. Experimental results showed that Mc250 was able to reduce (~60%) the virulence phenotype of the plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri when co-inoculated in Citrus sinensis, and was able to eradicate 98% of juveniles and stabilize the hatching rate of eggs to 4% in two species of agricultural nematodes. These results reveal biotechnological potential for the Mc250 strain and warrant its further investigation as a biocontrol and plant growth-promoting bacterium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcaligenes faecalis / drug effects
  • Alcaligenes faecalis / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Base Sequence
  • Citrus / microbiology*
  • Citrus / parasitology
  • DNA, Circular / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Genomic Islands / genetics
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Metals, Heavy / toxicity
  • Mimosa / microbiology
  • Nematoda / physiology
  • Phenols / metabolism
  • Phylogeny
  • Whole Genome Sequencing*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • DNA, Circular
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Phenols
  • Iron

Grants and funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - Brazil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 (the BIGA Project, CFP 51/2013, process 3385/2013), National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq Process 481226 / 2013-3), and Minas Gerais Research Foundation - FAPEMIG (process APQ-02387-14 and process APQ-02357-17). LMM, AMV, JAF, JCS, NFA, LGF and AMDS were funded in part by research fellowship from CNPq. NFA was funded in part by grants from Fundect-MS (TO 141/2016 and TO 007/2015) by a research fellowship from PROPP-UFMS. LMM was funded in part by a research fellowship from PROPPI-UFOP. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.