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Genomic insights reveal community structure and phylogenetic associations of endohyphal bacteria and viruses in fungal endophytes

Summary

This study examined tiny bacteria and viruses living inside the filaments of fungi that colonize beech tree leaves. Researchers found that different types of bacteria show preferences for specific fungal groups, while viruses are less diverse and mostly DNA-based. Understanding these microscopic communities helps explain how fungi function and could eventually lead to using these organisms for controlling plant diseases.

Background

Endohyphal microbial communities composed of bacteria and viruses residing within fungal hyphae play important roles in shaping fungal phenotypes and ecological functions. While endohyphal bacteria have been studied more extensively, much remains unknown about their diversity, host specificity, and the ecological roles of endohyphal viruses.

Objective

This study aimed to characterize the diversity of endohyphal bacterial and viral communities in fungal endophytes isolated from Fagus grandifolia leaves using genomic and transcriptomic approaches, and to assess potential host specialization through phylogenetic signal analyses.

Results

Bacterial communities were highly diverse with significant phylogenetic signal and core taxa including Bacillales, Burkholderiales, and Pseudomonadales shared across hosts. Several bacterial groups showed host specialization patterns specific to fungal orders. Viral communities were less diverse and dominated by double-stranded DNA viruses, with no core viral taxa detected and limited double-stranded RNA viruses identified.

Conclusion

Results indicate potential host specialization in bacterial endophytes and limited viral diversity in fungal hosts, with dsDNA viruses dominating the endohyphal virome. Future work expanding taxonomic databases and exploring functional roles of these microbial symbionts will be essential for understanding their contributions to fungal biology and ecosystem processes.
  • Published in:Environmental Microbiome,
  • Study Type:Genomic and Metatranscriptomic Analysis,
  • Source: PMID: 40713930
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