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Microorganisms
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Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research
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Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 13051

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elena Servienė

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Botany, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: functioning of killer yeasts; Saccharomyces, metagenomic, genomic and transcriptomic analysis of yeast killer systems; distribution of bacterial and fungal microbiota; antimicrobials and their application
Prof. Dr. Saulius Serva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, Sauletekio av. 7, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: yeast dsRNA viruses; mechanisms of viral compatibility and maintenance; proteomics analysis; lifecycle of Totiviridae

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Killer phenotype frequently occurs in yeast strains isolated from a variety of natural and industrial habitats. They are associated with the production of toxins encoded on extrachromosomal genetic elements such as double-stranded RNA, linear DNA, or nuclear genes. The killer systems confer increased competitiveness toward sensitive strains contending for resources in the environment. Widespread killer yeasts represent model systems for the elucidation of the mechanisms that underlie interactions between microorganisms. Currently, intense investigations of the molecular basis of the killer phenomenon and its application are underway. The developments and recent advances in various “-omics” technologies, including metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and lipidomics are exploited to deepen insight of the functioning of yeast killer systems.

In this Special Issue, we invite scientists to contribute articles on the different topics associated with the investigation of yeast killer systems. Description of structural-functional organization of killer viruses and encoded toxins, the mechanisms of virus-host cell interactions and toxin entry into target cells, deciphering of biocontrol properties and the importance of killer yeasts in environment, biomedicine and food industry are all of particular interest.

Dr. Elena Servienė
Prof. Dr. Saulius Serva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • killer yeasts
  • killer toxins
  • viruses
  • omics technologies
  • application of killer systems

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 195 KiB  
Editorial
Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research
by Elena Servienė and Saulius Serva
Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051191 - 01 May 2023
Viewed by 1209
Abstract
Biocidic phenotype is common in yeast strains isolated from a variety of natural and industrial habitats [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research)

Research

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14 pages, 2622 KiB  
Article
New Insights into the Genome Organization of Yeast Double-Stranded RNA LBC Viruses
by Manuel Ramírez, Alberto Martínez and Felipe Molina
Microorganisms 2022, 10(1), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10010173 - 14 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1739
Abstract
The yeasts Torulaspora delbrueckii (Td) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) may show a killer phenotype that is encoded in dsRNA M viruses (V-M), which require the helper activity of another dsRNA virus (V-LA or V-LBC) for replication. Recently, two TdV-LBCbarr genomes, which share sequence [...] Read more.
The yeasts Torulaspora delbrueckii (Td) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) may show a killer phenotype that is encoded in dsRNA M viruses (V-M), which require the helper activity of another dsRNA virus (V-LA or V-LBC) for replication. Recently, two TdV-LBCbarr genomes, which share sequence identity with ScV-LBC counterparts, were characterized by high-throughput sequencing (HTS). They also share some similar characteristics with Sc-LA viruses. This may explain why TdV-LBCbarr has helper capability to maintain M viruses, whereas ScV-LBC does not. We here analyze two stretches with low sequence identity (LIS I and LIS II) that were found in TdV-LBCbarr Gag-Pol proteins when comparing with the homologous regions of ScV-LBC. These stretches may result from successive nucleotide insertions or deletions (indels) that allow compensatory frameshift events required to maintain specific functions of the RNA-polymerase, while modifying other functions such as the ability to bind V-M (+)RNA for packaging. The presence of an additional frameshifting site in LIS I may ensure the synthesis of a certain amount of RNA-polymerase until the new compensatory indel appears. Additional 5′- and 3′-extra sequences were found beyond V-LBC canonical genomes. Most extra sequences showed high identity to some stretches of the canonical genomes and can form stem-loop structures. Further, the 3′-extra sequence of two ScV-LBC genomes contains rRNA stretches. The origin and possible functions of these extra sequences are here discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research)
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14 pages, 7369 KiB  
Article
Specificity Determination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Killer Virus Systems
by Lina Aitmanaitė, Aleksandras Konovalovas, Povilas Medvedevas, Elena Servienė and Saulius Serva
Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020236 - 23 Jan 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2585
Abstract
Saccharomyces yeasts are widely distributed in the environment and microbiota of higher organisms. The killer phenotype of yeast, encoded by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus systems, is a valuable trait for host survival. The mutual relationship between the different yet clearly defined LA and [...] Read more.
Saccharomyces yeasts are widely distributed in the environment and microbiota of higher organisms. The killer phenotype of yeast, encoded by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus systems, is a valuable trait for host survival. The mutual relationship between the different yet clearly defined LA and M virus pairs suggests complex fitting context. To define the basis of this compatibility, we established a system devoted to challenging inherent yeast viruses using viral proteins expressed in trans. Virus exclusion by abridged capsid proteins was found to be complete and nonspecific, indicating the presence of generic mechanisms of Totiviridae maintenance in yeast cells. Indications of specificity in both the exclusion of LA viruses and the maintenance of M viruses by viral capsid proteins expressed in trans were observed. This precise specificity was further established by demonstrating the importance of the satellite virus in the maintenance of LA virus, suggesting the selfish behavior of M dsRNA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research)
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18 pages, 4887 KiB  
Article
Saccharomyces paradoxus Transcriptional Alterations in Cells of Distinct Phenotype and Viral dsRNA Content
by Bazilė Ravoitytė, Juliana Lukša, Vyacheslav Yurchenko, Saulius Serva and Elena Servienė
Microorganisms 2020, 8(12), 1902; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8121902 - 30 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2013
Abstract
Killer yeasts are attractive antifungal agents with great potential applications in the food industry. Natural Saccharomyces paradoxus isolates provide new dsRNA-based killer systems available for investigation. The presence of viral dsRNA may alter transcriptional profile of S. paradoxus. To test this possibility, [...] Read more.
Killer yeasts are attractive antifungal agents with great potential applications in the food industry. Natural Saccharomyces paradoxus isolates provide new dsRNA-based killer systems available for investigation. The presence of viral dsRNA may alter transcriptional profile of S. paradoxus. To test this possibility, a high-throughput RNA sequencing was employed to compare the transcriptomes of S. paradoxus AML 15-66 K66 killer strains after curing them of either M-66 alone or both M-66 and L-A-66 dsRNA viruses. The S. paradoxus cells cured of viral dsRNA(s) showed respiration deficient or altered sporulation patterns. We have identified numerous changes in the transcription profile of genes including those linked to ribosomes and amino acid biosynthesis, as well as mitochondrial function. Our work advance studies of transcriptional adaptations of Saccharomyces spp. induced by changes in phenotype and set of dsRNA viruses, reported for the first time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research)
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Review

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14 pages, 1491 KiB  
Review
Killer Yeasts for the Biological Control of Postharvest Fungal Crop Diseases
by Mariana Andrea Díaz, Martina María Pereyra, Ernesto Picón-Montenegro, Friedhelm Meinhardt and Julián Rafael Dib
Microorganisms 2020, 8(11), 1680; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111680 - 29 Oct 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4225
Abstract
Every year and all over the world the fungal decay of fresh fruit and vegetables frequently generates substantial economic losses. Synthetic fungicides, traditionally used to efficiently combat the putrefactive agents, emerged, however, as the cause of environmental and human health issues. Given the [...] Read more.
Every year and all over the world the fungal decay of fresh fruit and vegetables frequently generates substantial economic losses. Synthetic fungicides, traditionally used to efficiently combat the putrefactive agents, emerged, however, as the cause of environmental and human health issues. Given the need to seek for alternatives, several biological approaches were followed, among which those with killer yeasts stand out. Here, after the elaboration of the complex of problems, we explain the hitherto known yeast killer mechanisms and present the implementation of yeasts displaying such phenotype in biocontrol strategies for pre- or postharvest treatments to be aimed at combating postharvest fungal decay in numerous agricultural products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Yeast Killer Systems Research)
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