Plant-associated mycobiomes in extreme habitats are understudied and poorly understood.
We analysed Illumina-generated ITS1 sequences from the needle mycobiome of white spruce (Picea glauca) at the ...northern treeline in Alaska (USA). Sequences were obtained from the same DNA that was used for tree genotyping. In the present study, fungal metabarcoding and tree microsatellite data were compared for the first time.
In general, neighbouring trees shared more fungal taxa with each other than trees growing in further distance. Mycobiomes correlated strongly with phenological host traits and local habitat characteristics contrasting a dense forest stand with an open treeline site. Genetic similarity between trees did not influence fungal composition and no significant correlation existed between needle mycobiome and tree genotype.
Our results suggest the pronounced influence of local habitat conditions and phenotypic tree traits on needle-inhabiting fungi. By contrast, the tree genetic identity cannot be bench-marked as a dominant driver for needle-inhabiting mycobiomes, at least not for white spruce in this extreme environment.
Multiple biotic and abiotic parameters influence the dynamics of individual fungal species and entire communities. Major drivers for tropical plant endophytes are undoubtedly seasonality, local ...habitat conditions and biogeography. However, host specialization and tissue preferences also contribute to the structuring of endophytic mycobiomes. To elucidate such specializations and preferences, we sampled two commercially important, unrelated plant species,
Amorphophallus albispathus
and
Camellia sinensis
(tea plant) simultaneously at close proximity. The mycobiomes of different tissue types were assessed with high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer DNA region. Both plants hosted different fungal communities and varied in α- and β-diversity, despite their neighboring occurrence. However, the fungal assemblages of
Amorphophallus
leaflets shared taxa with the mycobiomes of tea leaves, thereby suggesting common driving forces for leaf-inhabiting fungi irrespective of host plant identity. The mycobiome composition and diversity of tea leaves was clearly driven by leaf age. We suggest that the very youngest tea leaves are colonized by stochastic processes, while mycobiomes of old leaves are rather similar as the result of progressive succession. The biodiversity of fungi associated with
A. albispathus
was characterized by a large number of unclassified OTUs (at genus and species level) and by tissue-specific composition.This study is the first cultivation-independent high-throughput assessment of fungal biodiversity of an
Amorphophallus
species, and additionally expands the knowledge base on fungi associated with tea plants.
Summary
Plant‐associated mycobiomes in extreme habitats are understudied and poorly understood.
We analysed Illumina‐generated
ITS1
sequences from the needle mycobiome of white spruce (
Picea glauca
...) at the northern treeline in Alaska (USA). Sequences were obtained from the same DNA that was used for tree genotyping. In the present study, fungal metabarcoding and tree microsatellite data were compared for the first time.
In general, neighbouring trees shared more fungal taxa with each other than trees growing in further distance. Mycobiomes correlated strongly with phenological host traits and local habitat characteristics contrasting a dense forest stand with an open treeline site. Genetic similarity between trees did not influence fungal composition and no significant correlation existed between needle mycobiome and tree genotype.
Our results suggest the pronounced influence of local habitat conditions and phenotypic tree traits on needle‐inhabiting fungi. By contrast, the tree genetic identity cannot be benchmarked as a dominant driver for needle‐inhabiting mycobiomes, at least not for white spruce in this extreme environment.
Abstract
MicroRNA-371a-3p (miR371) has been suggested as a sensitive biomarker in testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC). We aimed to compare miR371 with the classical biomarkers α-fetoprotein (AFP) and ...β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG
β
). Overall, 180 patients were prospectively enrolled in the study, with serum samples collected before and after orchiectomy. We compared the use of digital droplet PCR (RT-ddPCR) with the quantitative PCR used by others for detection of miR371. The novel RT-ddPCR protocol showed high performance in detection of miR371 in serum samples. In the study cohort, miR371 was measured using RT-ddPCR. MiR371 detected CS1 of the seminoma and the non-seminoma sub-types with a sensitivity of 87% and 89%, respectively. The total sensitivity was 89%. After orchiectomy, miR371 levels declined in 154 of 159 TGCC cases. The ratio of miR371 pre- and post-orchiectomy was 20.5 in CS1 compared to 6.5 in systemic disease. AFP and hCG
β
had sensitivities of 52% and 51% in the non-seminomas. MiR371 is a sensitive marker that performs better than the classical markers in all sub-types and clinical stages. Especially for the seminomas CS1, the high sensitivity of miR371 in detecting TGCC cells may have clinical implications.
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