Sbissi Imed, Chouikhi Farah, Ghodhbane-Gtari Faten, Gtari Maher
Institute of Arid Lands of Medenine, LR Pastoral Ecosystems and Promotion of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms, University of Gabes, Gabes, Tunisia.
Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, USCR Molecular Bacteriology and Genomics, University of Carthage, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Tunis, 2080, Tunisia.
BMC Genomics. 2025 Jan 20;26(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s12864-025-11228-2.
The stone-dwelling genus Blastococcus plays a key role in ecosystems facing extreme conditions such as drought, salinity, alkalinity, and heavy metal contamination. Despite its ecological significance, little is known about the genomic factors underpinning its adaptability and resilience in such harsh environments. This study investigates the genomic basis of Blastococcus's adaptability within its specific microniches, offering insights into its potential for biotechnological applications.
Comprehensive pangenome analysis revealed that Blastococcus possesses a highly dynamic genetic composition, characterized by a small core genome and a large accessory genome, indicating significant genomic plasticity. Ecogenomic assessments highlighted the genus's capabilities in substrate degradation, nutrient transport, and stress tolerance, particularly on stone surfaces and archaeological sites. The strains also exhibited plant growth-promoting traits, enhanced heavy metal resistance, and the ability to degrade environmental pollutants, positioning Blastococcus as a candidate for sustainable agriculture and bioremediation. Interestingly, no correlation was found between the ecological or plant growth-promoting traits (PGPR) of the strains and their isolation source, suggesting that these traits are not linked to their specific environments.
This research highlights the ecological and biotechnological potential of Blastococcus species in ecosystem health, soil fertility improvement, and stress mitigation strategies. It calls for further studies on the adaptation mechanisms of the genus, emphasizing the need to validate these findings through wet lab experiments. This study enhances our understanding of microbial ecology in extreme environments and supports the use of Blastococcus in environmental management, particularly in soil remediation and sustainable agricultural practices.
生活在石头上的芽球菌属在面临干旱、盐碱化、碱化和重金属污染等极端条件的生态系统中发挥着关键作用。尽管其具有生态意义，但对于支撑其在如此恶劣环境中适应性和恢复力的基因组因素却知之甚少。本研究调查了芽球菌在其特定微生境中的适应性基因组基础，为其生物技术应用潜力提供了见解。
全面的泛基因组分析表明，芽球菌具有高度动态的遗传组成，其特征是核心基因组小而辅助基因组大，表明具有显著的基因组可塑性。生态基因组评估突出了该属在底物降解、养分运输和胁迫耐受性方面的能力，特别是在石头表面和考古遗址上。这些菌株还表现出促进植物生长的特性、增强的重金属抗性以及降解环境污染物的能力，使芽球菌成为可持续农业和生物修复的候选者。有趣的是，未发现菌株的生态或促进植物生长特性（植物根际促生菌）与其分离来源之间存在相关性，这表明这些特性与它们的特定环境无关。
本研究突出了芽球菌属在生态系统健康、土壤肥力改善和胁迫缓解策略方面的生态和生物技术潜力。它呼吁对该属的适应机制进行进一步研究，强调需要通过湿实验室实验验证这些发现。本研究增进了我们对极端环境中微生物生态学的理解，并支持在环境管理中使用芽球菌，特别是在土壤修复和可持续农业实践中。
