Title: RefSoil+: a Reference Database for Genes and Traits of Soil Plasmids

Abstract

Plasmids harbor transferable genes that contribute to the functional repertoire of microbial communities, yet their contributions to metagenomes are often overlooked. Environmental plasmids have the potential to spread antibiotic resistance to clinical microbial strains. In soils, high microbiome diversity and high variability in plasmid characteristics present a challenge for studying plasmids. To improve the understanding of soil plasmids, we present RefSoil+, a database containing plasmid sequences from 922 soil microorganisms. Soil plasmids were larger than other described plasmids, which is a trait associated with plasmid mobility. There was a weak relationship between chromosome size and plasmid size and no relationship between chromosome size and plasmid number, suggesting that these genomic traits are independent in soil. We used RefSoil+ to inform the distributions of antibiotic resistance genes among soil microorganisms compared to those among nonsoil microorganisms. Soil-associated plasmids, but not chromosomes, had fewer antibiotic resistance genes than other microorganisms. These data suggest that soils may offer limited opportunity for plasmid-mediated transfer of described antibiotic resistance genes. RefSoil+ can serve as a reference for the diversity, composition, and host associations of plasmid-borne functional genes in soil, a utility that will be enhanced as the database expands. Our study improves the understanding ofmore » soil plasmids and provides a resource for assessing the dynamics of the genes that they carry, especially genes conferring antibiotic resistances.Soil-associated plasmids have the potential to transfer antibiotic resistance genes from environmental to clinical microbial strains, which is a public health concern. A specific resource is needed to aggregate the knowledge of soil plasmid characteristics so that the content, host associations, and dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes can be assessed and then tracked between the environment and the clinic. Here, we present RefSoil+, a database of soil-associated plasmids. RefSoil+ presents a contemporary snapshot of antibiotic resistance genes in soil that can serve as a reference as novel plasmids and transferred antibiotic resistances are discovered. Our study broadens our understanding of plasmids in soil and provides a community resource of important plasmid-associated genes, including antibiotic resistance genes.« less

Authors:

Dunivin, Taylor K.; Choi, Jinlyung ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Choi, Jinlyung"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4546-2789"

Howe, Adina; Shade, Ashley ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Shade, Ashley"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-7189-3067"

Sharpton, ed., Thomas J.

Publication Date:

Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2019

Research Org.:

Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Urbana, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

OSTI Identifier:

1496503

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1497836

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0018420; SC0018409

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

mSystems

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: mSystems Journal Volume: 4 Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2379-5077

Publisher:

American Society for Microbiology

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; antibiotic resistance genes; database; isolates; metagenomics; microbial ecology; microbiome dynamics; one health; plasmid; soil microbiology; targeted gene assembly