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Glockow T, Kaster AK, Rabe KS, Niemeyer CM. Sustainable agriculture: leveraging microorganisms for a circular economy. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:452. [PMID: 39212740 PMCID: PMC11364797 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13294-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms serve as linchpins in agricultural systems. Classic examples include microbial composting for nutrient recovery, using microorganisms in biogas technology for agricultural waste utilization, and employing biofilters to reduce emissions from stables or improve water quality in aquaculture. This mini-review highlights the importance of microbiome analysis in understanding microbial diversity, dynamics, and functions, fostering innovations for a more sustainable agriculture. In this regard, customized microorganisms for soil improvement, replacements for harmful agrochemicals or antibiotics in animal husbandry, and (probiotic) additives in animal nutrition are already in or even beyond the testing phase for a large-scale conventional agriculture. Additionally, as climate change reduces arable land, new strategies based on closed-loop systems and controlled environment agriculture, emphasizing microbial techniques, are being developed for regional food production. These strategies aim to secure the future food supply and pave the way for a sustainable, resilient, and circular agricultural economy. KEY POINTS: • Microbial strategies facilitate the integration of multiple trophic levels, essential for cycling carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients. • Exploring microorganisms in integrated biological systems is essential for developing practical agricultural solutions. • Technological progress makes sustainable closed-entity re-circulation systems possible, securing resilient future food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Glockow
- Acheron GmbH, Auf Der Muggenburg 30, 28217, Bremen, Germany
| | - Anne-Kristin Kaster
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological Interfaces 5 (IBG-5), Biotechnology and Microbial Genetics, Hermann-Von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Kersten S Rabe
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological Interfaces 1 (IBG-1), Biomolecular Micro- and Nanostructures, Hermann-Von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christof M Niemeyer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological Interfaces 1 (IBG-1), Biomolecular Micro- and Nanostructures, Hermann-Von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
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Zoheir AE, Stolle C, Rabe KS. Microfluidics for adaptation of microorganisms to stress: design and application. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:162. [PMID: 38252163 PMCID: PMC10803453 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13011-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic systems have fundamentally transformed the realm of adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) for microorganisms by offering unparalleled control over environmental conditions, thereby optimizing mutant generation and desired trait selection. This review summarizes the substantial influence of microfluidic technologies and their design paradigms on microbial adaptation, with a primary focus on leveraging spatial stressor concentration gradients to enhance microbial growth in challenging environments. Specifically, microfluidic platforms tailored for scaled-down ALE processes not only enable highly autonomous and precise setups but also incorporate novel functionalities. These capabilities encompass fostering the growth of biofilms alongside planktonic cells, refining selection gradient profiles, and simulating adaptation dynamics akin to natural habitats. The integration of these aspects enables shaping phenotypes under pressure, presenting an unprecedented avenue for developing robust, stress-resistant strains, a feat not easily attainable using conventional ALE setups. The versatility of these microfluidic systems is not limited to fundamental research but also offers promising applications in various areas of stress resistance. As microfluidic technologies continue to evolve and merge with cutting-edge methodologies, they possess the potential not only to redefine the landscape of microbial adaptation studies but also to expedite advancements in various biotechnological areas. KEY POINTS: • Microfluidics enable precise microbial adaptation in controlled gradients. • Microfluidic ALE offers insights into stress resistance and distinguishes between resistance and persistence. • Integration of adaptation-influencing factors in microfluidic setups facilitates efficient generation of stress-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed E Zoheir
- Department of Genetics and Cytology, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Centre (NRC), 33 El Buhouth St., Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Camilla Stolle
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 1 (IBG-1), Biomolecular Micro- and Nanostructures, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Kersten S Rabe
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 1 (IBG-1), Biomolecular Micro- and Nanostructures, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
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Li S, Lian WH, Han JR, Ali M, Lin ZL, Liu YH, Li L, Zhang DY, Jiang XZ, Li WJ, Dong L. Capturing the microbial dark matter in desert soils using culturomics-based metagenomics and high-resolution analysis. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:67. [PMID: 37736746 PMCID: PMC10516943 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00439-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Deserts occupy one-third of the Earth's terrestrial surface and represent a potentially significant reservoir of microbial biodiversity, yet the majority of desert microorganisms remain uncharacterized and are seen as "microbial dark matter". Here, we introduce a multi-omics strategy, culturomics-based metagenomics (CBM) that integrates large-scale cultivation, full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicon, and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that CBM captured a significant amount of taxonomic and functional diversity missed in direct sequencing by increasing the recovery of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and high/medium-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Importantly, CBM allowed the post hoc recovery of microbes of interest (e.g., novel or specific taxa), even those with extremely low abundance in the culture. Furthermore, strain-level analyses based on CBM and direct sequencing revealed that the desert soils harbored a considerable number of novel bacterial candidates (1941, 51.4%), of which 1095 (from CBM) were culturable. However, CBM would not exactly reflect the relative abundance of true microbial composition and functional pathways in the in situ environment, and its use coupled with direct metagenomic sequencing could provide greater insight into desert microbiomes. Overall, this study exemplifies the CBM strategy with high-resolution is an ideal way to deeply explore the untapped novel bacterial resources in desert soils, and substantially expands our knowledge on the microbial dark matter hidden in the vast expanse of deserts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- School of Life Science, Jiaying University, Meizhou, 514015, China
| | - Wen-Hui Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Jia-Rui Han
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Mukhtiar Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Zhi-Liang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yong-Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
| | - Dong-Ya Zhang
- Microbiome Research Center, Moon (Guangzhou) Biotech Ltd., Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Xian-Zhi Jiang
- Microbiome Research Center, Moon (Guangzhou) Biotech Ltd., Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Wen-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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