ParAquaSeq, a Database of Ecologically Annotated rRNA Sequences Covering Zoosporic Parasites Infecting Aquatic Primary Producers in Natural and Industrial Systems

Amplicon sequencing tools such as metabarcoding are commonly used for thorough characterisation of microbial diversity in natural samples. They mostly rely on the amplification of conserved universal markers, mainly ribosomal genes, allowing the taxonomic assignment of barcodes. However, linking taxonomic classification with functional traits is not straightforward and requires knowledge of each taxonomic group to confidently assign taxa to a given functional trait. Zoosporic parasites are highly diverse and yet understudied, with many undescribed species and host associations. However, they can have important impacts on host populations in natural ecosystems (e.g., controlling harmful algal blooms), as well as on industrial-scale algae production, e.g. aquaculture, causing their collapse or economic losses. Here, we present ParAquaSeq, a curated database of available molecular ribosomal sequences belonging to zoosporic parasites infecting aquatic vascular plants, macroalgae and photosynthetic microorganisms, i.e. microalgae and cyanobacteria. These sequences are aligned with ancillary data and other information currently available, including details on their hosts, occurrence, culture availability and associated bibliography. The database includes 1131 curated sequences from marine, freshwater and industrial or artificial environments, and belonging to 13 different taxonomic groups, including Chytridiomycota, Oomycota, Phytomyxea, and Syndiniophyceae. The curated database will allow a comprehensive analysis of zoosporic parasites in molecular datasets to answer questions related to their occurrence and distribution in natural communities. Especially through meta-analysis, the database serves as a valuable tool for developing effective mitigation and sustainable management strategies in the algae biomass industry, but it will also help to identify knowledge gaps for future research.

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Publication Details

Journal
Molecular Ecology Resources
Published
2025-03-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.14099
Citations
6
Primary Topic
Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
10.50

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article

ParAquaSeq, a Database of Ecologically Annotated rRNA Sequences Covering Zoosporic Parasites Infecting Aquatic Primary Producers in Natural and Industrial Systems

Andrea Tarallo, Hans‐Peter Grossart, Cécile Lepère, Miloš Stupar et al.
6 citations
Molecular Ecology Resources
Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
10.50
article

ParAquaSeq, a Database of Ecologically Annotated rRNA Sequences Covering Zoosporic Parasites Infecting Aquatic Primary Producers in Natural and Industrial Systems

Andrea Tarallo, Hans‐Peter Grossart, Cécile Lepère, Miloš Stupar, Laura Garzoli, Géza Balázs Selmeczy, Michael Cunliffe, Elżbieta Wilk‐Woźniak, Séréna Rasconi, Albert Reñé, Silke Van den Wyngaert, Dirk S. Schmeller, Ana Gavrilović, Alexandra Kraberg, Hossein Masigol, Bettina Scholz, Alena S. Gsell, Natàlia Timoneda, Ivana Trbojević, Claire M. M. Gachon, Sławek Cerbin, Sigrid Neuhauser
article en
6 citations

Abstract

Amplicon sequencing tools such as metabarcoding are commonly used for thorough characterisation of microbial diversity in natural samples. They mostly rely on the amplification of conserved universal markers, mainly ribosomal genes, allowing the taxonomic assignment of barcodes. However, linking taxonomic classification with functional traits is not straightforward and requires knowledge of each taxonomic group to confidently assign taxa to a given functional trait. Zoosporic parasites are highly diverse and yet understudied, with many undescribed species and host associations. However, they can have important impacts on host populations in natural ecosystems (e.g., controlling harmful algal blooms), as well as on industrial-scale algae production, e.g. aquaculture, causing their collapse or economic losses. Here, we present ParAquaSeq, a curated database of available molecular ribosomal sequences belonging to zoosporic parasites infecting aquatic vascular plants, macroalgae and photosynthetic microorganisms, i.e. microalgae and cyanobacteria. These sequences are aligned with ancillary data and other information currently available, including details on their hosts, occurrence, culture availability and associated bibliography. The database includes 1131 curated sequences from marine, freshwater and industrial or artificial environments, and belonging to 13 different taxonomic groups, including Chytridiomycota, Oomycota, Phytomyxea, and Syndiniophyceae. The curated database will allow a comprehensive analysis of zoosporic parasites in molecular datasets to answer questions related to their occurrence and distribution in natural communities. Especially through meta-analysis, the database serves as a valuable tool for developing effective mitigation and sustainable management strategies in the algae biomass industry, but it will also help to identify knowledge gaps for future research.

Molecular Ecology ResourcesVol. 25(6)
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (GB), Leiden University (NL), Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR), University of Pannonia (HU), University of Turku (FI), University of Potsdam (DE), Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR), University of Zagreb (HR), Universität Innsbruck (AT), Université Clermont Auvergne (FR), University of Belgrade (RS), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (ES), Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NL), Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (DE), Water Research Institute (IT), Laboratoire Microorganismes Génome et Environnement (FR), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (FR), Institute of Nature Conservation (PL), Institut de Ciències del Mar (ES), National Research Council (IT), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (PL), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (FR), University of Plymouth (GB), Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
Albert Ellis Institute, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Biodiversa+, European Commission, European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Icelandic Centre for Research, AXA Research Fund, Academy of Finland, Austrian Science Fund, Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, LifeWatch – Niclas Öberg Foundation, Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
10.50
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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