‘CandidatusMegaira’ are diverse symbionts of algae and ciliates with the potential for defensive symbiosis
Authors: Davison Helen R. , Hurst Gregory D. D. , Siozios Stefanos 
Published: September 2022

Symbiotic microbes from the genus ‘CandidatusMegaira’ (Rickettsiales) are known to be common associates of algae and ciliates. However genomic resources for these bacteria are scarce, limiting our understanding of their diversity and biology. We therefore utilized SRA and metagenomic assemblies to explore the diversity of this genus. We successfully extracted four draft ‘Ca. Megaira’ genomes including one complete scaffold for a ‘Ca. Megaira’ and identified an additional 14 draft genomes from uncategorised environmental Metagenome-Assembled Genomes. We use this information to resolve the phylogeny for the hyper-diverse ‘Ca. Megaira’, with hosts broadly spanning ciliates, micro- and macro-algae, and find that the current single genus designation ‘Ca. Megaira’ significantly underestimates their diversity. We also evaluate the metabolic potential and diversity of ‘Ca. Megaira’ from this new genomic data and find no clear evidence of nutritional symbiosis. In contrast, we hypothesize a potential for defensive symbiosis in ‘Ca. Megaira’. Intriguingly, one symbiont genome revealed a proliferation of ORFs with ankyrin, tetratricopeptide and Leucine rich repeats like those observed in the genusWolbachiawhere they are considered important for host-symbiont protein-protein interactions. Onward research should investigate the phenotypic interactions between ‘Ca. Megaira’ and their various potential hosts, including the economically importantNemacystus decipiens, and target acquisition of genomic information to reflect the diversity of this massively variable group.

Data Summary

Genomes assembled in this project have been deposited in bioproject PRJNA867165

Impact statement

Bacteria that live inside larger organisms commonly form symbiotic relationships that impact the host’s biology in fundamental ways, such as improving defences against natural enemies or altering host reproduction. Certain groups like ciliates and algae are known to host symbiotic bacteria commonly, but our knowledge of their symbiont’s evolution and function is limited. One such bacteria is ‘CandidatusMegaira’, a Rickettsiales that was first identified in ciliates, then later in algae. To improve the available data for this common but understudied group, we searched the genomes of potential hosts on online databases for Rickettsiales and assembled their genomes. We found 4 ‘Ca. Megaira’ this way and then used these to find a further 14 genomes in environmental metagenomic data. Overall, we increased the number of known ‘Ca. Megaira’ draft genomes from 2 to 20. These new genomes show us that ‘Ca. Megaira’ is far more diverse than previously thought and that it is potentially involved in defensive symbioses. In addition, one genome shows striking resemblance to well characterized symbiont,Wolbachia, in encoding many proteins predicted to interact directly with host proteins. The genomes we have identified and examined here provide baseline resources for future work investigating the real-world interactions between the hyper diverse ‘Ca. Megaira’ and its various potential hosts, like the economically importantNemacystus decipiens.