1
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Richter A, Blei F, Hu G, Schwitalla JW, Lozano-Andrade CN, Xie J, Jarmusch SA, Wibowo M, Kjeldgaard B, Surabhi S, Xu X, Jautzus T, Phippen CBW, Tyc O, Arentshorst M, Wang Y, Garbeva P, Larsen TO, Ram AFJ, van den Hondel CAM, Maróti G, Kovács ÁT. Enhanced surface colonisation and competition during bacterial adaptation to a fungus. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4486. [PMID: 38802389 PMCID: PMC11130161 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48812-1] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial-fungal interactions influence microbial community performance of most ecosystems and elicit specific microbial behaviours, including stimulating specialised metabolite production. Here, we use a co-culture experimental evolution approach to investigate bacterial adaptation to the presence of a fungus, using a simple model of bacterial-fungal interactions encompassing the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the fungus Aspergillus niger. We find in one evolving population that B. subtilis was selected for enhanced production of the lipopeptide surfactin and accelerated surface spreading ability, leading to inhibition of fungal expansion and acidification of the environment. These phenotypes were explained by specific mutations in the DegS-DegU two-component system. In the presence of surfactin, fungal hyphae exhibited bulging cells with delocalised secretory vesicles possibly provoking an RlmA-dependent cell wall stress. Thus, our results indicate that the presence of the fungus selects for increased surfactin production, which inhibits fungal growth and facilitates the competitive success of the bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Richter
- Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Felix Blei
- Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany
| | - Guohai Hu
- Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbial Genomics and Application, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jan W Schwitalla
- Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Carlos N Lozano-Andrade
- Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jiyu Xie
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Scott A Jarmusch
- Natural Product Discovery Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mario Wibowo
- Natural Product Discovery Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Bodil Kjeldgaard
- Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Surabhi Surabhi
- Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Xinming Xu
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Theresa Jautzus
- Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Christopher B W Phippen
- Natural Product Discovery Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Olaf Tyc
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mark Arentshorst
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yue Wang
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Paolina Garbeva
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen
- Natural Product Discovery Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Arthur F J Ram
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gergely Maróti
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ákos T Kovács
- Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark.
- Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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2
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Hallberg ZF, Nicolas AM, Alvarez-Aponte ZI, Mok KC, Sieradzki ET, Pett-Ridge J, Banfield JF, Carlson HK, Firestone MK, Taga ME. Soil microbial community response to corrinoids is shaped by a natural reservoir of vitamin B 12. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.12.580003. [PMID: 38405713 PMCID: PMC10888822 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.580003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Soil microbial communities perform critical ecosystem services through the collective metabolic activities of numerous individual organisms. Most microbes use corrinoids, a structurally diverse family of cofactors related to vitamin B12. Corrinoid structure influences the growth of individual microbes, yet how these growth responses scale to the community level remains unknown. Analysis of metagenome-assembled genomes suggests corrinoids are supplied to the community by members of the archaeal and bacterial phyla Thermoproteota, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Corrinoids were found largely adhered to the soil matrix in a grassland soil, at levels exceeding those required by cultured bacteria. Enrichment cultures and soil microcosms seeded with different corrinoids showed distinct shifts in bacterial community composition, supporting the hypothesis that corrinoid structure can shape communities. Environmental context influenced both community and taxon-specific responses to specific corrinoids. These results implicate corrinoids as key determinants of soil microbiome structure and suggest that environmental micronutrient reservoirs promote community stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary F. Hallberg
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Alexa M. Nicolas
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Zoila I. Alvarez-Aponte
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Kenny C. Mok
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Ella T. Sieradzki
- Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Jennifer Pett-Ridge
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550 USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Jillian F. Banfield
- Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Hans K. Carlson
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Mary K. Firestone
- Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
| | - Michiko E. Taga
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA
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3
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Islam W, Zeng F, Ahmed Dar A, Sohail Yousaf M. Dynamics of soil biota and nutrients at varied depths in a Tamarix ramosissima-dominated natural desert ecosystem: Implications for nutrient cycling and desertification management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120217. [PMID: 38340666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The underground community of soil organisms, known as soil biota, plays a critical role in terrestrial ecosystems. Different ecosystems exhibit varied responses of soil organisms to soil physical and chemical properties (SPCPs). However, our understanding of how soil biota react to different soil depths in naturally established population of salinity tolerant Tamarix ramosissima in desert ecosystems, remains limited. To address this, we employed High-Throughput Illumina HiSeq Sequencing to examine the population dynamics of soil bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and metazoa at six different soil depths (0-100 cm) in the naturally occurring T. ramosissima dominant zone within the Taklimakan desert of China. Our observations reveal that the alpha diversity of bacteria, fungi, metazoa, and protists displayed a linear decrease with the increase of soil depth, whereas archaea exhibited an inverse pattern. The beta diversity of soil biota, particularly metazoa, bacteria, and protists, demonstrated noteworthy associations with soil depths through Non-Metric Dimensional Scaling analysis. Among the most abundant classes of soil organisms, we observed Actinobacteria, Sordariomycetes, Halobacteria, Spirotrichea, and Nematoda for bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and metazoa, respectively. Additionally, we identified associations between the vertical distribution of dominant biotic communities and SPCPs. Bacterial changes were mainly influenced by total potassium, available phosphorus (AP), and soil water content (SWC), while fungi were impacted by nitrate (NO3-) and available potassium (AK). Archaea showed correlations with total carbon (TC) and AK thus suggesting their role in methanogenesis and methane oxidation, protists with AP and SWC, and metazoa with AP and pH. These correlations underscore potential connections to nutrient cycling and the production and consumption of greenhouse gases (GhGs). This insight establishes a solid foundation for devising strategies to mitigate nutrient cycling and GHG emissions in desert soils, thereby playing a pivotal role in the advancement of comprehensive approaches to sustainable desert ecosystem management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqar Islam
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Fanjiang Zeng
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Afzal Ahmed Dar
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. Montreal, Quebec H3G1M8, Canada
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4
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Hallberg ZF, Nicolas AM, Alvarez-Aponte ZI, Mok KC, Sieradzki ET, Pett-Ridge J, Banfield JF, Carlson HK, Firestone MK, Taga ME. Soil microbial community response to corrinoids is shaped by a natural reservoir of vitamin B12. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae094. [PMID: 38832716 PMCID: PMC11287211 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Soil microbial communities perform critical ecosystem services through the collective metabolic activities of numerous individual organisms. Most microbes use corrinoids, a structurally diverse family of cofactors related to vitamin B12. Corrinoid structure influences the growth of individual microbes, yet how these growth responses scale to the community level remains unknown. Analysis of metagenome-assembled genomes suggests that corrinoids are supplied to the community by members of the archaeal and bacterial phyla Thermoproteota, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Corrinoids were found largely adhered to the soil matrix in a grassland soil, at levels exceeding those required by cultured bacteria. Enrichment cultures and soil microcosms seeded with different corrinoids showed distinct shifts in bacterial community composition, supporting the hypothesis that corrinoid structure can shape communities. Environmental context influenced both community- and taxon-specific responses to specific corrinoids. These results implicate corrinoids as key determinants of soil microbiome structure and suggest that environmental micronutrient reservoirs promote community stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary F Hallberg
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Alexa M Nicolas
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Zoila I Alvarez-Aponte
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Kenny C Mok
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Ella T Sieradzki
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Jennifer Pett-Ridge
- Physical & Life Science Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Earth & Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Hans K Carlson
- Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Mary K Firestone
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Michiko E Taga
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
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5
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Ramoneda J, Jensen TBN, Price MN, Casamayor EO, Fierer N. Taxonomic and environmental distribution of bacterial amino acid auxotrophies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7608. [PMID: 37993466 PMCID: PMC10665431 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Many microorganisms are auxotrophic-unable to synthesize the compounds they require for growth. With this work, we quantify the prevalence of amino acid auxotrophies across a broad diversity of bacteria and habitats. We predicted the amino acid biosynthetic capabilities of 26,277 unique bacterial genomes spanning 12 phyla using a metabolic pathway model validated with empirical data. Amino acid auxotrophy is widespread across bacterial phyla, but we conservatively estimate that the majority of taxa (78.4%) are able to synthesize all amino acids. Our estimates indicate that amino acid auxotrophies are more prevalent among obligate intracellular parasites and in free-living taxa with genomic attributes characteristic of 'streamlined' life history strategies. We predicted the amino acid biosynthetic capabilities of bacterial communities found in 12 unique habitats to investigate environmental associations with auxotrophy, using data compiled from 3813 samples spanning major aquatic, terrestrial, and engineered environments. Auxotrophic taxa were more abundant in host-associated environments (including the human oral cavity and gut) and in fermented food products, with auxotrophic taxa being relatively rare in soil and aquatic systems. Overall, this work contributes to a more complete understanding of amino acid auxotrophy across the bacterial tree of life and the ecological contexts in which auxotrophy can be a successful strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Ramoneda
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Thomas B N Jensen
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Center for Microbial Communities, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Morgan N Price
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Emilio O Casamayor
- Spanish Research Council (CSIC), Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Blanes, Spain
| | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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6
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Xia C, Zhao Y, Zhang L, Li X, Cheng Y, Wang D, Xu C, Qi M, Wang J, Guo X, Ye X, Huang Y, Shen D, Dou D, Cao H, Li Z, Cui Z. Myxobacteria restrain Phytophthora invasion by scavenging thiamine in soybean rhizosphere via outer membrane vesicle-secreted thiaminase I. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5646. [PMID: 37704617 PMCID: PMC10499793 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41247-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Public metabolites such as vitamins play critical roles in maintaining the ecological functions of microbial community. However, the biochemical and physiological bases for fine-tuning of public metabolites in the microbiome remain poorly understood. Here, we examine the interactions between myxobacteria and Phytophthora sojae, an oomycete pathogen of soybean. We find that host plant and soil microbes complement P. sojae's auxotrophy for thiamine. Whereas, myxobacteria inhibits Phytophthora growth by a thiaminase I CcThi1 secreted into extracellular environment via outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). CcThi1 scavenges the required thiamine and thus arrests the thiamine sharing behavior of P. sojae from the supplier, which interferes with amino acid metabolism and expression of pathogenic effectors, probably leading to impairment of P. sojae growth and pathogenicity. Moreover, myxobacteria and CcThi1 are highly effective in regulating the thiamine levels in soil, which is correlated with the incidence of soybean Phytophthora root rot. Our findings unravel a novel ecological tactic employed by myxobacteria to maintain the interspecific equilibrium in soil microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyao Xia
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yuqiang Zhao
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xu Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yang Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Plant Diseases and Insects of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Dongming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Changsheng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Mengyi Qi
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jihong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiangrui Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xianfeng Ye
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Danyu Shen
- The Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Plant Diseases and Insects of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Daolong Dou
- The Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Management of Plant Diseases and Insects of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Hui Cao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zhoukun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Zhongli Cui
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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7
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Fu Y, Xu R, Yang B, Wu Y, Xia L, Tawfik A, Meng F. Mediation of Bacterial Interactions via a Novel Membrane-Based Segregator to Enhance Biological Nitrogen Removal. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0070923. [PMID: 37404187 PMCID: PMC10370321 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00709-23] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulation of microbial subpopulations in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with desired functions can guarantee nutrient removal. In nature, "good fences make good neighbors," which can be applied to engineering microbial consortia. Herein, a membrane-based segregator (MBSR) was proposed, where porous membranes not only promote the diffusion of metabolic products but also isolate incompatible microbes. The MBSR was integrated with an anoxic/aerobic membrane bioreactor (i.e., an experimental MBR). The long-term operation showed that the experimental MBR exhibited higher nitrogen removal (10.45 ± 2.73 mg/L total nitrogen) than the control MBR (21.68 ± 4.23 mg/L) in the effluent. The MBSR resulted in much lower oxygen reduction potential in the anoxic tank of the experimental MBR (-82.00 mV) compared to that of the control MBR (83.25 mV). The lower oxygen reduction potential can inevitably aid in the occurrence of denitrification. The 16S rRNA sequencing showed that the MBSR significantly enriched acidogenic consortia, which yielded considerable volatile fatty acids by fermenting the added carbon sources and allowed efficient transfer of these small molecules to the denitrifying community. Moreover, the sludge communities of the experimental MBR harbored a higher abundance of denitrifying bacteria than those of the control MBR. Metagenomic analysis further corroborated these sequencing results. The spatially structured microbial communities in the experimental MBR system demonstrate the practicability of the MBSR, achieving nitrogen removal efficiency superior to that of mixed populations. Our study provides an engineering method for modulating the assembly and metabolic division of labor of subpopulations in WWTPs. IMPORTANCE This study provides an innovative and applicable method for regulating subpopulations (activated sludge and acidogenic consortia), which contributes to the precise control of the metabolic division of labor in biological wastewater treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Fu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ronghua Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Boyi Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yingxin Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Lichao Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ahmed Tawfik
- National Research Centre, Water Pollution Research Department, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fangang Meng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
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8
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Cremin K, Duxbury SJN, Rosko J, Soyer OS. Formation and emergent dynamics of spatially organized microbial systems. Interface Focus 2023; 13:20220062. [PMID: 36789239 PMCID: PMC9912014 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2022.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Spatial organization is the norm rather than the exception in the microbial world. While the study of microbial physiology has been dominated by studies in well-mixed cultures, there is now increasing interest in understanding the role of spatial organization in microbial physiology, coexistence and evolution. Where studied, spatial organization has been shown to influence all three of these aspects. In this mini review and perspective article, we emphasize that the dynamics within spatially organized microbial systems (SOMS) are governed by feedbacks between local physico-chemical conditions, cell physiology and movement, and evolution. These feedbacks can give rise to emergent dynamics, which need to be studied through a combination of spatio-temporal measurements and mathematical models. We highlight the initial formation of SOMS and their emergent dynamics as two open areas of investigation for future studies. These studies will benefit from the development of model systems that can mimic natural ones in terms of species composition and spatial structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Cremin
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Jerko Rosko
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Orkun S. Soyer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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9
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Hawxhurst CJ, Micciulla JL, Bridges CM, Shor M, Gage DJ, Shor LM. Soil Protists Can Actively Redistribute Beneficial Bacteria along Medicago truncatula Roots. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0181922. [PMID: 36877040 PMCID: PMC10057870 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01819-22] [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: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The rhizosphere is the region of soil directly influenced by plant roots. The microbial community in the rhizosphere includes fungi, protists, and bacteria: all play significant roles in plant health. The beneficial bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti infects growing root hairs on nitrogen-starved leguminous plants. Infection leads to the formation of a root nodule, where S. meliloti converts atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, a bioavailable form. In soil, S. meliloti is often found in biofilms and travels slowly along the roots, leaving developing root hairs at the growing root tips uninfected. Soil protists are an important component of the rhizosphere system, able to travel quickly along roots and water films, who prey on soil bacteria and have been known to egest undigested phagosomes. We show that a soil protist, Colpoda sp., can transport S. meliloti down Medicago truncatula roots. Using model soil microcosms, we directly observed fluorescently labeled S. meliloti along M. truncatula roots and tracked the displacement of the fluorescence signal over time. Two weeks after co-inoculation, this signal extended 52 mm farther down plant roots when Colpoda sp. was also present versus treatments that contained bacteria but not protists. Direct counts also showed protists are required for viable bacteria to reach the deeper sections of our microcosms. Facilitating bacterial transport may be an important mechanism whereby soil protists promote plant health. IMPORTANCE Soil protists are an important part of the microbial community in the rhizosphere. Plants grown with protists fare better than plants grown without protists. Mechanisms through which protists support plant health include nutrient cycling, alteration of the bacterial community through selective feeding, and consumption of plant pathogens. Here, we provide data in support of an additional mechanism: protists act as transport vehicles for bacteria in soil. We show that protist-facilitated transport can deliver plant-beneficial bacteria to the growing tips of roots that may otherwise be sparsely inhabited with bacteria originating from a seed-associated inoculum. By co-inoculating Medicago truncatula roots with both S. meliloti, a nitrogen-fixing legume symbiont, and Colpoda sp., a ciliated protist, we show substantial and statistically significant transport with depth and breadth of bacteria-associated fluorescence as well as transport of viable bacteria. Co-inoculation with shelf-stable encysted soil protists may be employed as a sustainable agriculture biotechnology to better distribute beneficial bacteria and enhance the performance of inoculants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Hawxhurst
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jamie L. Micciulla
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Charles M. Bridges
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mikhael Shor
- Department of Economics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Daniel J. Gage
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Leslie M. Shor
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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10
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Zhao Y, Feng Y, Zhou J, Zhang K, Sun J, Wang L, Liu S. Potential bacterial isolation by dosing metabolites in cross-feedings. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 231:119589. [PMID: 36645941 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic cross-feeding, in which species use metabolites of other members to promote their own growth, is vital for bacterial growth and survival. Thus, whether the unculturable bacteria can be isolated or purified from consortia by adding these essential metabolites remains elusive. In this study, mass spectrometry imaging vividly pictured symbionts supplied folate and gluconate to anammox bacteria to support their growth. After dosing folate and gluconate, the relative abundance and activity of anammox bacteria were substantially improved. Such enhancement is originated from the added folate and gluconate significantly eased metabolic burden of anammox bacteria as they no longer secreted the extracellular public goods to others for "resource exchange" during cross-feedings. On the other hand, the decreased supplement of extracellular "public goods" lead to the decay of symbionts with high demand for these metabolites in the consortia. This also deservedly increased the relative abundance of anammox bacteria. This study provides a new dimension to isolate specific functional bacteria based on metabolic cross-feedings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Zhao
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yiming Feng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jianhang Zhou
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kuo Zhang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jingqi Sun
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lina Wang
- CCCC SINOBIOWAY E&P CO.,LTD, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Sitong Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China.
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11
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West R, Delattre H, Noor E, Feliu E, Soyer OS. Dynamics of co-substrate pools can constrain and regulate metabolic fluxes. eLife 2023; 12:84379. [PMID: 36799616 PMCID: PMC10027320 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cycling of co-substrates, whereby a metabolite is converted among alternate forms via different reactions, is ubiquitous in metabolism. Several cycled co-substrates are well known as energy and electron carriers (e.g. ATP and NAD(P)H), but there are also other metabolites that act as cycled co-substrates in different parts of central metabolism. Here, we develop a mathematical framework to analyse the effect of co-substrate cycling on metabolic flux. In the cases of a single reaction and linear pathways, we find that co-substrate cycling imposes an additional flux limit on a reaction, distinct to the limit imposed by the kinetics of the primary enzyme catalysing that reaction. Using analytical methods, we show that this additional limit is a function of the total pool size and turnover rate of the cycled co-substrate. Expanding from this insight and using simulations, we show that regulation of these two parameters can allow regulation of flux dynamics in branched and coupled pathways. To support these theoretical insights, we analysed existing flux measurements and enzyme levels from the central carbon metabolism and identified several reactions that could be limited by the dynamics of co-substrate cycling. We discuss how the limitations imposed by co-substrate cycling provide experimentally testable hypotheses on specific metabolic phenotypes. We conclude that measuring and controlling co-substrate dynamics is crucial for understanding and engineering metabolic fluxes in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert West
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Warwick, United Kingdom
| | - Hadrien Delattre
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Warwick, United Kingdom
| | - Elad Noor
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elisenda Feliu
- Department of Mathematics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Orkun S Soyer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Warwick, United Kingdom
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12
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Giri S, Yousif G, Shitut S, Oña L, Kost C. Prevalent emergence of reciprocity among cross-feeding bacteria. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:71. [PMID: 37938764 PMCID: PMC9723789 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00155-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Explaining the de novo evolution of obligate cooperative cross-feeding interactions among bacteria is a fundamental problem. A critical step during this process is the emergence of reciprocity among two interaction partners, because a mutually beneficial exchange of metabolic byproducts can subsequently favour the evolution of cooperative cross-feeding. However, so far, the propensity with which unidirectional cross-feeding interactions transition into bidirectional interactions remains unknown. To address this issue, we systematically cocultured four amino acid auxotrophic genotypes of two bacterial species with potential amino acid donors belonging to 25 different bacterial species. Surprisingly, the results of this experiment revealed that in around 40% of all cases analysed, both the auxotrophic recipient and the metabolically autonomous donor gained a significant growth advantage in coculture. Subsequent experiments clarified that the auxotrophy-causing mutation did not induce the growth-enhancing effect of recipients, but that it was rather due to a generally high propensity of different species to engage in synergistic metabolic interactions. Together, these findings show that reciprocity commonly emerges spontaneously in unidirectional cross-feeding interactions, thus paving the way for the evolution of even tighter metabolic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Giri
- Experimental Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany.
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ghada Yousif
- Experimental Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Shraddha Shitut
- Experimental Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leonardo Oña
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Christian Kost
- Experimental Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany.
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13
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Romero-Leiton JP, Prieto K, Reyes-Gonzalez D, Fuentes-Hernandez A. Optimal control and Bayes inference applied to complex microbial communities. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2022; 19:6860-6882. [PMID: 35730286 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2022323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between species are essential in ecosystems, but sometimes competition dominates over mutualism. The transition between mutualism-competition can have several implications and consequences, and it has hardly been studied in experimental settings. This work studies the mutualism between cross-feeding bacteria in strains that supply an essential amino acid for their mutualistic partner when both strains are exposed to antimicrobials. When the strains are free of antimicrobials, we found that, depending on the amount of amino acids freely available in the environment, the strains can exhibit extinction, mutualism, or competition. The availability of resources modulates the behavior of both species. When the strains are exposed to antimicrobials, the population dynamics depend on the proportion of bacteria resistant to the antimicrobial, finding that the extinction of both strains is eminent for low levels of the resource. In contrast, competition between both strains continues for high levels of the resource. An optimal control problem was then formulated to reduce the proportion of resistant bacteria, which showed that under cooperation, both strains (sensitive and resistant) are immediately controlled, while under competition, only the density of one of the strains is decreased. In contrast, its mutualist partner with control is increased. Finally, using our experimental data, we did parameters estimation in order to fit our mathematical model to the experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhoana P Romero-Leiton
- Engineering Faculty, Cesmag University, Pasto, Colombia
- Design and Visual Arts Department, Georgian College, Barrie, Canada
| | - Kernel Prieto
- Design and Visual Arts Department, Georgian College, Barrie, Canada
| | - Daniela Reyes-Gonzalez
- Center for Genomic Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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14
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Oña L, Kost C. Cooperation increases robustness to ecological disturbance in microbial cross-feeding networks. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1410-1420. [PMID: 35384221 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms mainly exist within complex networks of ecological interactions. Given that the growth and survival of community members frequently depend on an obligate exchange of essential metabolites, it is generally unclear how such communities can persist despite the destabilising force of ecological disturbance. Here we address this issue using a population dynamics model. In contrast to previous work that suggests the potential for obligate interaction networks to emerge is limited, we find the opposite pattern: ecological disturbance favours both specific network topologies and cooperative cross-feeding among community members. These results establish environmental perturbations as a key driver shaping the architecture of microbial interaction networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Oña
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Christian Kost
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
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15
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Hussain F, Khan AHA, Hussain I, Farooqi A, Muhammad YS, Iqbal M, Arslan M, Yousaf S. Soil conditioners improve rhizodegradation of aged petroleum hydrocarbons and enhance the growth of Lolium multiflorum. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:9097-9109. [PMID: 34495472 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16149-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bioremediation and phytoremediation have demonstrated potential for decontamination of petroleum hydrocarbon-impacted soils. The total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) are known to induce phytotoxicity, reduce water retention in soil, associate hydrophobic nature and contaminants' in situ heterogeneous distribution, limit soil nutrient release and reduce soil aeration and compaction. The ageing of TPHs in contaminated soils further hinders the degradation process. Soil amendments can promote plant growth and enhance the TPH removal from contaminated aged soil. In the present experiment, remediation of TPH-contaminated aged soil was performed by Italian ryegrass, with compost (COM, 5%), biochar (BC, 5%) and immobilized microorganisms' technique (IMT). Results revealed that significantly highest hydrocarbon removal (40%) was noted in mixed amendments (MAA) which contained BC + COM + IMT, followed by COM (36%), compared to vegetative control and other treatments. The higher TPH removal in aged soil corresponds with the stimulated rhizospheric effects, as evidenced by higher root biomass (85-159% increase), and bacterial count compared to NA control. Phyto-stimulants actions of biochar and IMT improved seed germination of Italian ryegrass. The compost co-amendment with other treatments showed improvement in plant physiological status. These results suggested that plant growth and TPH removal from aged, contaminated soils using BC, COM and IMT can improve bioremediation efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fida Hussain
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
- Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Gangwon, 24341, South Korea
| | - Aqib Hassan Ali Khan
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria University (Karachi Campus), Karachi, 75260, Pakistan
| | - Imran Hussain
- Environmental Sustainability Section, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Asifa Farooqi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Yousaf Shad Muhammad
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Mazhar Iqbal
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Arslan
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sohail Yousaf
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
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16
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Daisley BA, Koenig D, Engelbrecht K, Doney L, Hards K, Al KF, Reid G, Burton JP. Emerging connections between gut microbiome bioenergetics and chronic metabolic diseases. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110087. [PMID: 34879270 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The conventional viewpoint of single-celled microbial metabolism fails to adequately depict energy flow at the systems level in host-adapted microbial communities. Emerging paradigms instead support that distinct microbiomes develop interconnected and interdependent electron transport chains that rely on cooperative production and sharing of bioenergetic machinery (i.e., directly involved in generating ATP) in the extracellular space. These communal resources represent an important subset of the microbial metabolome, designated here as the "pantryome" (i.e., pantry or external storage compartment), that critically supports microbiome function and can exert multifunctional effects on host physiology. We review these interactions as they relate to human health by detailing the genomic-based sharing potential of gut-derived bacterial and archaeal reference strains. Aromatic amino acids, metabolic cofactors (B vitamins), menaquinones (vitamin K2), hemes, and short-chain fatty acids (with specific emphasis on acetate as a central regulator of symbiosis) are discussed in depth regarding their role in microbiome-related metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan A Daisley
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
| | - David Koenig
- Kimberly Clark Corporation, Global Research and Engineering-Life Science, Neenah, WI, USA
| | - Kathleen Engelbrecht
- Kimberly Clark Corporation, Global Research and Engineering-Life Science, Neenah, WI, USA
| | - Liz Doney
- Kimberly Clark Corporation, Global Research and Engineering-Life Science, Neenah, WI, USA
| | - Kiel Hards
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Kait F Al
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
| | - Gregor Reid
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada; Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Schulich School of Medicine, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Jeremy P Burton
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada; Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Schulich School of Medicine, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
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17
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Soil Candidate Phyla Radiation Bacteria Encode Components of Aerobic Metabolism and Co-occur with Nanoarchaea in the Rare Biosphere of Rhizosphere Grassland Communities. mSystems 2021; 6:e0120520. [PMID: 34402646 PMCID: PMC8407418 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01205-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria and nanoarchaea populate most ecosystems but are rarely detected in soil. We concentrated particles of less than 0.2 μm in size from grassland soil, enabling targeted metagenomic analysis of these organisms, which are almost totally unexplored in largely oxic environments such as soil. We recovered a diversity of CPR bacterial and some archaeal sequences but no sequences from other cellular organisms. The sampled sequences include Doudnabacteria (SM2F11) and Pacearchaeota, organisms rarely reported in soil, as well as Saccharibacteria, Parcubacteria, and Microgenomates. CPR and archaea of the phyla Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota (DPANN) were enriched 100- to 1,000-fold compared to that in bulk soil, in which we estimate each of these organisms comprises approximately 1 to 100 cells per gram of soil. Like most CPR and DPANN sequenced to date, we predict these microorganisms live symbiotic anaerobic lifestyles. However, Saccharibacteria, Parcubacteria, and Doudnabacteria genomes sampled here also harbor ubiquinol oxidase operons that may have been acquired from other bacteria, likely during adaptation to aerobic soil environments. We conclude that CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea are part of the rare soil biosphere and harbor unique metabolic platforms that potentially evolved to live symbiotically under relatively oxic conditions. IMPORTANCE Here, we investigated overlooked microbes in soil, Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria and Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota (DPANN) archaea, by size fractionating small particles from soil, an approach typically used for the recovery of viral metagenomes. Concentration of these small cells (<0.2 μm) allowed us to identify these organisms as part of the rare soil biosphere and to sample genomes that were absent from non-size-fractionated metagenomes. We found that some of these predicted symbionts, which have been largely studied in anaerobic systems, have acquired aerobic capacity via lateral transfer that may enable adaptation to oxic soil environments. We estimate that there are approximately 1 to 100 cells of each of these lineages per gram of soil, highlighting that the approach provides a window into the rare soil biosphere and its associated genetic potential.
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18
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A Pseudomonas aeruginosa Antimicrobial Affects the Biogeography but Not Fitness of Staphylococcus aureus during Coculture. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.00047-21. [PMID: 33785630 PMCID: PMC8092195 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00047-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many human infections result from the action of multispecies bacterial communities. Within these communities, bacteria have been proposed to directly interact via physical and chemical means, resulting in increased disease and antimicrobial tolerance. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are two of the most common coinfecting bacteria in human infections, including the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. There is emerging evidence that coinfection with these microbes enhances disease severity and antimicrobial tolerance through direct interactions. However, one of the challenges to studying microbial interactions relevant to human infection is the lack of experimental models with the versatility to investigate complex interaction dynamics while maintaining biological relevance. Here, we developed a model based on an in vitro medium that mimics human CF lung secretions (synthetic CF sputum medium [SCFM2]) and allows time-resolved assessment of fitness and community spatial structure at the micrometer scale. Our results reveal that P. aeruginosa and S. aureus coexist as spatially structured communities in SCFM2 under static growth conditions, with S. aureus enriched at a distance of 3.5 μm from P. aeruginosa. Multispecies aggregates were rare, and aggregate (biofilm) sizes resembled those in human CF sputum. Elimination of P. aeruginosa’s ability to produce the antistaphylococcal small molecule HQNO (2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide) had no effect on bacterial fitness but altered the spatial structure of the community by increasing the distance of S. aureus from P. aeruginosa to 7.6 μm. Lastly, we show that coculture with P. aeruginosa sensitizes S. aureus to killing by the antibiotic tobramycin compared to monoculture growth despite HQNO enhancing tolerance during coculture. Our findings reveal that SCFM2 is a powerful model for studying P. aeruginosa and S. aureus and that HQNO alters S. aureus biogeography and antibiotic susceptibility without affecting fitness.
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19
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González-Cabaleiro R, Martinez-Rabert E, Argiz L, van Kessel MA, Smith CJ. A framework based on fundamental biochemical principles to engineer microbial community dynamics. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 67:111-118. [PMID: 33540361 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities are complex but there are basic principles we can apply to constrain the assumed stochasticity of their activity. By understanding the trade-offs behind the kinetic parameters that define microbial growth, we can explain how local interspecies dependencies arise and shape the emerging properties of a community. If we integrate these theoretical descriptions with experimental 'omics' data and bioenergetics analysis of specific environmental conditions, predictions on activity, assembly and spatial structure can be obtained reducing the a priori unpredictable complexity of microbial communities. This information can be used to define the appropriate selective pressures to engineer bioprocesses and propose new hypotheses which can drive experimental research to accelerate innovation in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca González-Cabaleiro
- James Watt School of Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, Glasgow, G12 8LT, UK.
| | - Eloi Martinez-Rabert
- James Watt School of Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, Glasgow, G12 8LT, UK
| | - Lucia Argiz
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Maartje Ahj van Kessel
- Radboud University, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Cindy J Smith
- James Watt School of Engineering, Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, Glasgow, G12 8LT, UK
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20
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Hart SFM, Chen CC, Shou W. Pleiotropic mutations can rapidly evolve to directly benefit self and cooperative partner despite unfavorable conditions. eLife 2021; 10:57838. [PMID: 33501915 PMCID: PMC8184212 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cooperation, paying a cost to benefit others, is widespread. Cooperation can be promoted by pleiotropic ‘win-win’ mutations which directly benefit self (self-serving) and partner (partner-serving). Previously, we showed that partner-serving should be defined as increased benefit supply rate per intake benefit. Here, we report that win-win mutations can rapidly evolve even under conditions unfavorable for cooperation. Specifically, in a well-mixed environment we evolved engineered yeast cooperative communities where two strains exchanged costly metabolites, lysine and hypoxanthine. Among cells that consumed lysine and released hypoxanthine, ecm21 mutations repeatedly arose. ecm21 is self-serving, improving self’s growth rate in limiting lysine. ecm21 is also partner-serving, increasing hypoxanthine release rate per lysine consumption and the steady state growth rate of partner and of community. ecm21 also arose in monocultures evolving in lysine-limited chemostats. Thus, even without any history of cooperation or pressure to maintain cooperation, pleiotropic win-win mutations may readily evolve to promote cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chi-Chun Chen
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Basic Sciences, Seattle, United States
| | - Wenying Shou
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Basic Sciences, Seattle, United States.,University College London, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), London, United Kingdom
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Marín O, González B, Poupin MJ. From Microbial Dynamics to Functionality in the Rhizosphere: A Systematic Review of the Opportunities With Synthetic Microbial Communities. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:650609. [PMID: 34149752 PMCID: PMC8210828 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.650609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) are a useful tool for a more realistic understanding of the outcomes of multiple biotic interactions where microbes, plants, and the environment are players in time and space of a multidimensional and complex system. Toward a more in-depth overview of the knowledge that has been achieved using SynComs in the rhizosphere, a systematic review of the literature on SynComs was performed to identify the overall rationale, design criteria, experimental procedures, and outcomes of in vitro or in planta tests using this strategy. After an extensive bibliography search and a specific selection process, a total of 30 articles were chosen for further analysis, grouping them by their reported SynCom size. The reported SynComs were constituted with a highly variable number of members, ranging from 3 to 190 strains, with a total of 1,393 bacterial isolates, where the three most represented phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. Only four articles did not reference experiments with SynCom on plants, as they considered only microbial in vitro studies, whereas the others chose different plant models and plant-growth systems; some of them are described and reviewed in this article. Besides, a discussion on different approaches (bottom-up and top-down) to study the microbiome role in the rhizosphere is provided, highlighting how SynComs are an effective system to connect and fill some knowledge gaps and to have a better understanding of the mechanisms governing these multiple interactions. Although the SynCom approach is already helpful and has a promising future, more systematic and standardized studies are needed to harness its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Marín
- Laboratorio de Bioingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago, Chile
| | - Bernardo González
- Laboratorio de Bioingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago, Chile
| | - María Josefina Poupin
- Laboratorio de Bioingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: María Josefina Poupin
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Alam B, Lǐ J, Gě Q, Khan MA, Gōng J, Mehmood S, Yuán Y, Gǒng W. Endophytic Fungi: From Symbiosis to Secondary Metabolite Communications or Vice Versa? FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:791033. [PMID: 34975976 PMCID: PMC8718612 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.791033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Endophytic fungi (EF) are a group of fascinating host-associated fungal communities that colonize the intercellular or intracellular spaces of host tissues, providing beneficial effects to their hosts while gaining advantages. In recent decades, accumulated research on endophytic fungi has revealed their biodiversity, wide-ranging ecological distribution, and multidimensional interactions with host plants and other microbiomes in the symbiotic continuum. In this review, we highlight the role of secondary metabolites (SMs) as effectors in these multidimensional interactions, and the biosynthesis of SMs in symbiosis via complex gene expression regulation mechanisms in the symbiotic continuum and via the mimicry or alteration of phytochemical production in host plants. Alternative biological applications of SMs in modern medicine, agriculture, and industry and their major classes are also discussed. This review recapitulates an introduction to the research background, progress, and prospects of endophytic biology, and discusses problems and substantive challenges that need further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beena Alam
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Key Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of Cotton, The Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Jùnwén Lǐ
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Key Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of Cotton, The Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Qún Gě
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Key Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of Cotton, The Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Mueen Alam Khan
- Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Jǔwǔ Gōng
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Key Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of Cotton, The Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Shahid Mehmood
- Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yǒulù Yuán
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Key Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of Cotton, The Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
- *Correspondence: Wànkuí Gǒng,
| | - Wànkuí Gǒng
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Key Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of Cotton, The Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
- Yǒulù Yuán,
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Abeysinghe G, Kuchira M, Kudo G, Masuo S, Ninomiya A, Takahashi K, Utada AS, Hagiwara D, Nomura N, Takaya N, Obana N, Takeshita N. Fungal mycelia and bacterial thiamine establish a mutualistic growth mechanism. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:3/12/e202000878. [PMID: 32962971 PMCID: PMC7574024 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cells travel along fungal highway and pay thiamine as a toll to the fungus. Simultaneous spatial and metabolic interactions in communicating bacterial and fungal species establish a mutualism that facilitates them to obtain an environmental niche and nutrient. Exclusivity in physical spaces and nutrients is a prerequisite for survival of organisms, but a few species have been able to develop mutually beneficial strategies that allow them to co-habit. Here, we discovered a mutualistic mechanism between filamentous fungus, Aspergillus nidulans, and bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. The bacterial cells co-cultured with the fungus traveled along mycelia using their flagella and dispersed farther with the expansion of fungal colony, indicating that the fungal mycelia supply space for bacteria to migrate, disperse, and proliferate. Transcriptomic, genetic, molecular mass, and imaging analyses demonstrated that the bacteria reached the mycelial edge and supplied thiamine to the growing hyphae, which led to a promotion of hyphal growth. The thiamine transfer from bacteria to the thiamine non-auxotrophic fungus was directly demonstrated by stable isotope labeling. The simultaneous spatial and metabolic interactions demonstrated in this study reveal a mutualism that facilitates the communicating fungal and bacterial species to obtain an environmental niche and nutrient, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayan Abeysinghe
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Momoka Kuchira
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Gamon Kudo
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Masuo
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Akihiro Ninomiya
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kohei Takahashi
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Andrew S Utada
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hagiwara
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Nomura
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Naoki Takaya
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Nozomu Obana
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Norio Takeshita
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability (MiCS), Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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Dias T, Pimentel V, Cogo AJD, Costa R, Bertolazi AA, Miranda C, de Souza SB, Melo J, Carolino M, Varma A, Eutrópio F, Olivares FL, Ramos AC, Cruz C. The Free-Living Stage Growth Conditions of the Endophytic Fungus Serendipita indica May Regulate Its Potential as Plant Growth Promoting Microbe. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:562238. [PMID: 33072023 PMCID: PMC7536269 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.562238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Serendipita indica (former Piriformospora indica) is a non-obligate endophytic fungus and generally a plant growth and defence promoter with high potential to be used in agriculture. However, S. indica may switch from biotrophy to saprotrophy losing its plant growth promoting traits. Our aim was to understand if the free-living stage growth conditions (namely C availability) regulate S. indica’s phenotype, and its potential as plant-growth-promoting-microbe (PGPM). We grew S. indica in its free-living stage under increasing C availabilities (2–20 g L–1 of glucose or sucrose). We first characterised the effect of C availability during free-living stage growth on fungal phenotype: colonies growth and physiology (plasma membrane proton pumps, stable isotopic signatures, and potential extracellular decomposing enzymes). The effect of the C availability during the free-living stage of the PGPM was evaluated on wheat. We observed that C availability during the free-living stage regulated S. indica’s growth, ultrastructure and physiology, resulting in two distinct colony phenotypes: compact and explorer. The compact phenotype developed at low C, used peptone as the major C and N source, and displayed higher decomposing potential for C providing substrates; while the explorer phenotype developed at high C, used glucose and sucrose as major C sources and casein and yeast extract as major N sources, and displayed higher decomposing potential for N and P providing substrates. The C availability, or the C/N ratio, during the free-living stage left a legacy to the symbiosis stage, regulating S. indica’s potential to promote plant growth: wheat growth promotion by the explorer phenotype was ± 40% higher than that by the compact phenotype. Our study highlights the importance of considering microbial ecology in designing PGPM/biofertilizers. Further studies are needed to test the phenotypes under more extreme conditions, and to understand if the in vitro acquired characteristics persist under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Dias
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vívian Pimentel
- Laboratory of Physiology and Biochemistry of Microorganisms, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | | | - Raquel Costa
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Amanda Azevedo Bertolazi
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universidade Vila Velha, Vila Velha, Brazil
| | - Camila Miranda
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universidade Vila Velha, Vila Velha, Brazil
| | - Sávio Bastos de Souza
- Plant Physiology Lab, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Juliana Melo
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Manuela Carolino
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ajit Varma
- Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | | | - Fábio Lopes Olivares
- Cell Tissue and Biology Lab, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Coutinho Ramos
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universidade Vila Velha, Vila Velha, Brazil
| | - Cristina Cruz
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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25
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Metabolic excretion associated with nutrient-growth dysregulation promotes the rapid evolution of an overt metabolic defect. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000757. [PMID: 32833957 PMCID: PMC7470746 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, conserved mechanisms ensure that cell growth is coordinated with nutrient availability. Overactive growth during nutrient limitation ("nutrient-growth dysregulation") can lead to rapid cell death. Here, we demonstrate that cells can adapt to nutrient-growth dysregulation by evolving major metabolic defects. Specifically, when yeast lysine-auxotrophic mutant lys- encountered lysine limitation, an evolutionarily novel stress, cells suffered nutrient-growth dysregulation. A subpopulation repeatedly evolved to lose the ability to synthesize organosulfurs (lys-orgS-). Organosulfurs, mainly reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSH conjugates, were released by lys- cells during lysine limitation when growth was dysregulated, but not during glucose limitation when growth was regulated. Limiting organosulfurs conferred a frequency-dependent fitness advantage to lys-orgS- by eliciting a proper slow growth program, including autophagy. Thus, nutrient-growth dysregulation is associated with rapid organosulfur release, which enables the selection of organosulfur auxotrophy to better tune cell growth to the metabolic environment. We speculate that evolutionarily novel stresses can trigger atypical release of certain metabolites, setting the stage for the evolution of new ecological interactions.
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26
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Plant–microbiome interactions: from community assembly to plant health. Nat Rev Microbiol 2020; 18:607-621. [DOI: 10.1038/s41579-020-0412-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 597] [Impact Index Per Article: 149.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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27
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Christensen SJ, Badino SF, Cavaleiro AM, Borch K, Westh P. Functional analysis of chimeric TrCel6A enzymes with different carbohydrate binding modules. Protein Eng Des Sel 2020; 32:401-409. [PMID: 32100026 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 6 is an important group of enzymes that constitute an essential part of industrial enzyme cocktails used to convert lignocellulose into fermentable sugars. In nature, enzymes from this family often have a carbohydrate binding module (CBM) from the CBM family 1. These modules are known to promote adsorption to the cellulose surface and influence enzymatic activity. Here, we have investigated the functional diversity of CBMs found within the GH6 family. This was done by constructing five chimeric enzymes based on the model enzyme, TrCel6A, from the soft-rot fungus Trichoderma reesei. The natural CBM of this enzyme was exchanged with CBMs from other GH6 enzymes originating from different cellulose degrading fungi. The chimeric enzymes were expressed in the same host and investigated in adsorption and quasi-steady-state kinetic experiments. Our results quantified functional differences of these phylogenetically distant binding modules. Thus, the partitioning coefficient for substrate binding varied 4-fold, while the maximal turnover (kcat) showed a 2-fold difference. The wild-type enzyme showed the highest cellulose affinity on all tested substrates and the highest catalytic turnover. The CBM from Serendipita indica strongly promoted the enzyme's ability to form productive complexes with sites on the substrate surface but showed lower turnover of the complex. We conclude that the CBM plays an important role for the functional differences between GH6 wild-type enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Jarl Christensen
- Research Unit for Functional Biomaterials, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, building 28B, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Silke Flindt Badino
- Research Unit for Functional Biomaterials, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, building 28B, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Ana Mafalda Cavaleiro
- Research Unit for Functional Biomaterials, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, building 28B, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.,Novozymes A/S, Department of Enzyme Discovery, Rævehøjvej 32A, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kim Borch
- Novozymes A/S, Department of Enzyme Discovery, Rævehøjvej 32A, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Westh
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, building 224, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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28
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Gorochowski TE, Hauert S, Kreft JU, Marucci L, Stillman NR, Tang TYD, Bandiera L, Bartoli V, Dixon DOR, Fedorec AJH, Fellermann H, Fletcher AG, Foster T, Giuggioli L, Matyjaszkiewicz A, McCormick S, Montes Olivas S, Naylor J, Rubio Denniss A, Ward D. Toward Engineering Biosystems With Emergent Collective Functions. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:705. [PMID: 32671054 PMCID: PMC7332988 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Many complex behaviors in biological systems emerge from large populations of interacting molecules or cells, generating functions that go beyond the capabilities of the individual parts. Such collective phenomena are of great interest to bioengineers due to their robustness and scalability. However, engineering emergent collective functions is difficult because they arise as a consequence of complex multi-level feedback, which often spans many length-scales. Here, we present a perspective on how some of these challenges could be overcome by using multi-agent modeling as a design framework within synthetic biology. Using case studies covering the construction of synthetic ecologies to biological computation and synthetic cellularity, we show how multi-agent modeling can capture the core features of complex multi-scale systems and provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms which guide emergent functionalities across scales. The ability to unravel design rules underpinning these behaviors offers a means to take synthetic biology beyond single molecules or cells and toward the creation of systems with functions that can only emerge from collectives at multiple scales.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabine Hauert
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jan-Ulrich Kreft
- School of Biosciences and Institute of Microbiology and Infection and Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia Marucci
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Namid R. Stillman
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - T.-Y. Dora Tang
- Max Plank Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Physics of Life, Cluster of Excellence, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lucia Bandiera
- School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Vittorio Bartoli
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alex J. H. Fedorec
- Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Harold Fellermann
- School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander G. Fletcher
- Bateson Centre and School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Foster
- School of Biosciences and Institute of Microbiology and Infection and Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Giuggioli
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Scott McCormick
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Montes Olivas
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Naylor
- School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Rubio Denniss
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Ward
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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29
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Kantsler V, Ontañón-McDonald E, Kuey C, Ghanshyam MJ, Roffin MC, Asally M. Pattern Engineering of Living Bacterial Colonies Using Meniscus-Driven Fluidic Channels. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1277-1283. [PMID: 32491836 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Creating adaptive, sustainable, and dynamic biomaterials is a forthcoming mission of synthetic biology. Engineering spatially organized bacterial communities has a potential to develop such bio-metamaterials. However, generating living patterns with precision, robustness, and a low technical barrier remains as a challenge. Here we present an easily implementable technique for patterning live bacterial populations using a controlled meniscus-driven fluidics system, named as MeniFluidics. We demonstrate multiscale patterning of biofilm colonies and swarms with submillimeter resolution. Utilizing the faster bacterial spreading in liquid channels, MeniFluidics allows controlled bacterial colonies both in space and time to organize fluorescently labeled Bacillus subtilis strains into a converged pattern and to form dynamic vortex patterns in confined bacterial swarms. The robustness, accuracy, and low technical barrier of MeniFluidics offer a tool for advancing and inventing new living materials that can be combined with genetically engineered systems, and adding to fundamental research into ecological, evolutional, and physical interactions between microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily Kantsler
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | | | - Cansu Kuey
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Manjari J. Ghanshyam
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Chiara Roffin
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Munehiro Asally
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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30
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Hernandez-Valdes JA, van Gestel J, Kuipers OP. A riboswitch gives rise to multi-generational phenotypic heterogeneity in an auxotrophic bacterium. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1203. [PMID: 32139702 PMCID: PMC7058034 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Auxotrophy, the inability to produce an organic compound essential for growth, is widespread among bacteria. Auxotrophic bacteria rely on transporters to acquire these compounds from their environment. Here, we study the expression of both low- and high-affinity transporters of the costly amino acid methionine in an auxotrophic lactic acid bacterium, Lactococcus lactis. We show that the high-affinity transporter (Met-transporter) is heterogeneously expressed at low methionine concentrations, resulting in two isogenic subpopulations that sequester methionine in different ways: one subpopulation primarily relies on the high-affinity transporter (high expression of the Met-transporter) and the other subpopulation primarily relies on the low-affinity transporter (low expression of the Met-transporter). The phenotypic heterogeneity is remarkably stable, inherited for tens of generations, and apparent at the colony level. This heterogeneity results from a T-box riboswitch in the promoter region of the met operon encoding the high-affinity Met-transporter. We hypothesize that T-box riboswitches, which are commonly found in the Lactobacillales, may play as-yet unexplored roles in the predominantly auxotrophic lifestyle of these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhonatan A Hernandez-Valdes
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jordi van Gestel
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands.
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31
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Feng Y, Zhao Y, Jiang B, Zhao H, Wang Q, Liu S. Discrepant gene functional potential and cross-feedings of anammox bacteria Ca. Jettenia caeni and Ca. Brocadia sinica in response to acetate. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 165:114974. [PMID: 31450220 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.114974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Although the enhancement of anammox performance for wastewater treatment due to the addition of small amount of acetate has been reported, discrepant metabolic responses of different anammox species have not been experimentally evaluated. Based on metagenomics and metatranscriptomic data, we investigated the competitiveness between two typical anammox species, Candidatus Jettenia caeni (J. caeni) and Candidatus Brocadia sinica (B. sinica), in anammox consortia under mixotrophic condition, where complex metabolic interactions among anammox bacteria and heterotrophs also changed with acetate addition. Contrary to J. caeni, the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium pathway of B. sinica was markedly stimulated for improving nitrogen removal. More acetate metabolic pathways and up-regulated AMP-acs expression for acetyl-CoA synthesis in B. sinica contributed to its superiority in acetate utilization. Interestingly, cross-feedings, including the nitrogen cycle, amino acid cross-feeding and B-vitamin metabolic exchange between B. sinica and other heterotrophs seemed to be enhanced with acetate addition, contributing to a reduction in metabolic energy cost to the whole community. Our work not only clarified the mechanism underlying discrepant responses of different anammox species to acetate, but also suggests a possible strategy for obtaining higher nitrogen removal rates in wastewater treatment under low C/N ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Feng
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Huazhang Zhao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qilin Wang
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Sitong Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Saleem M, Hu J, Jousset A. More Than the Sum of Its Parts: Microbiome Biodiversity as a Driver of Plant Growth and Soil Health. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110617-062605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms drive several processes needed for robust plant growth and health. Harnessing microbial functions is thus key to productive and sustainable food production. Molecular methods have led to a greater understanding of the soil microbiome composition. However, translating species or gene composition into microbiome functionality remains a challenge. Community ecology concepts such as the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning framework may help predict the assembly and function of plant-associated soil microbiomes. Higher diversity can increase the number and resilience of plant-beneficial functions that can be coexpressed and unlock the expression of plant-beneficial traits that are hard to obtain from any species in isolation. We combine well-established community ecology concepts with molecular microbiology into a workable framework that may enable us to predict and enhance soil microbiome functionality to promote robust plant growth in a global change context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saleem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, USA
| | - Jie Hu
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Jousset
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Gude S, Taga ME. Multi-faceted approaches to discovering and predicting microbial nutritional interactions. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 62:58-64. [PMID: 31597114 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Nearly all microbes rely on other species in their environment to provide nutrients they are unable to produce. Nutritional interactions include not only the exchange of carbon and nitrogen compounds, but also amino acids and cofactors. Interactions involving cross-feeding of cobamides, the vitamin B12 family of cofactors, have been developed as a model for nutritional interactions across species and environments. In addition to experimental studies, new developments in culture-independent methodologies such as genomics and modeling now enable the prediction of nutritional interactions in a broad range of organisms including those that cannot be cultured in the laboratory. New insights into the mechanisms and evolution of microbial nutritional interactions are beginning to emerge by combining experimental, genomic, and modeling approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Gude
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Michiko E Taga
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA.
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Hart SFM, Pineda JMB, Chen CC, Green R, Shou W. Disentangling strictly self-serving mutations from win-win mutations in a mutualistic microbial community. eLife 2019; 8:e44812. [PMID: 31162049 PMCID: PMC6548503 DOI: 10.7554/elife.44812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutualisms can be promoted by pleiotropic win-win mutations which directly benefit self (self-serving) and partner (partner-serving). Intuitively, partner-serving phenotype could be quantified as an individual's benefit supply rate to partners. Here, we demonstrate the inadequacy of this thinking, and propose an alternative. Specifically, we evolved well-mixed mutualistic communities where two engineered yeast strains exchanged essential metabolites lysine and hypoxanthine. Among cells that consumed lysine and released hypoxanthine, a chromosome duplication mutation seemed win-win: it improved cell's affinity for lysine (self-serving), and increased hypoxanthine release rate per cell (partner-serving). However, increased release rate was due to increased cell size accompanied by increased lysine utilization per birth. Consequently, total hypoxanthine release rate per lysine utilization (defined as 'exchange ratio') remained unchanged. Indeed, this mutation did not increase the steady state growth rate of partner, and is thus solely self-serving during long-term growth. By extension, reduced benefit production rate by an individual may not imply cheating.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chi-Chun Chen
- Division of Basic SciencesFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Robin Green
- Division of Basic SciencesFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Wenying Shou
- Division of Basic SciencesFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
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Hart SFM, Mi H, Green R, Xie L, Pineda JMB, Momeni B, Shou W. Uncovering and resolving challenges of quantitative modeling in a simplified community of interacting cells. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000135. [PMID: 30794534 PMCID: PMC6402699 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative modeling is useful for predicting behaviors of a system and for rationally constructing or modifying the system. The predictive power of a model relies on accurate quantification of model parameters. Here, we illustrate challenges in parameter quantification and offer means to overcome these challenges, using a case example in which we quantitatively predict the growth rate of a cooperative community. Specifically, the community consists of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, each engineered to release a metabolite required and consumed by its partner. The initial model, employing parameters measured in batch monocultures with zero or excess metabolite, failed to quantitatively predict experimental results. To resolve the model-experiment discrepancy, we chemically identified the correct exchanged metabolites, but this did not improve model performance. We then remeasured strain phenotypes in chemostats mimicking the metabolite-limited community environments, while mitigating or incorporating effects of rapid evolution. Almost all phenotypes we measured, including death rate, metabolite release rate, and the amount of metabolite consumed per cell birth, varied significantly with the metabolite environment. Once we used parameters measured in a range of community-like chemostat environments, prediction quantitatively agreed with experimental results. In summary, using a simplified community, we uncovered and devised means to resolve modeling challenges that are likely general to living systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F. M. Hart
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Hanbing Mi
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Robin Green
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Li Xie
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jose Mario Bello Pineda
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Babak Momeni
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Wenying Shou
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Sun X, Chen W, Ivanov S, MacLean AM, Wight H, Ramaraj T, Mudge J, Harrison MJ, Fei Z. Genome and evolution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Diversispora epigaea (formerly Glomus versiforme) and its bacterial endosymbionts. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 221:1556-1573. [PMID: 30368822 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form endosymbioses with most plants, and they themselves are hosts for Mollicutes/Mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE). Despite their significance, genomic information for AM fungi and their MRE are relatively sparse, which hinders our understanding of their biology and evolution. We assembled the genomes of the AM fungus Diversispora epigaea (formerly Glomus versiforme) and its MRE and performed comparative genomics and evolutionary analyses. The D. epigaea genome showed a pattern of substantial gene duplication and differential evolution of gene families, including glycosyltransferase family 25, whose activities are exclusively lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. Genes acquired by horizontal transfer from bacteria possibly function in defense against foreign DNA or viruses. The MRE population was diverse, with multiple genomes displaying characteristics of differential evolution and encoding many MRE-specific genes as well as genes of AM fungal origin. Gene family expansion in D. epigaea may enhance adaptation to both external and internal environments, such as expansion of kinases for signal transduction upon external stimuli and expansion of nucleoside salvage pathway genes potentially for competition with MRE, whose genomes lack purine and pyrimidine biosynthetic pathways. Collectively, this metagenome provides high-quality references and begins to reveal the diversity within AM fungi and their MRE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuepeng Sun
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Wenbo Chen
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | | | | | - Haley Wight
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | | | - Joann Mudge
- National Center for Genome Resources, Santa Fe, NM, 87505, USA
| | | | - Zhangjun Fei
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health, USDA-ARS, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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Zerfaß C, Asally M, Soyer OS. Interrogating metabolism as an electron flow system. CURRENT OPINION IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2019; 13:59-67. [PMID: 31008413 PMCID: PMC6472609 DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metabolism is generally considered as a neatly organised system of modular pathways, shaped by evolution under selection for optimal cellular growth. This view falls short of explaining and predicting a number of key observations about the structure and dynamics of metabolism. We highlight these limitations of a pathway-centric view on metabolism and summarise studies suggesting how these could be overcome by viewing metabolism as a thermodynamically and kinetically constrained, dynamical flow system. Such a systems-level, first-principles based view of metabolism can open up new avenues of metabolic engineering and cures for metabolic diseases and allow better insights to a myriad of physiological processes that are ultimately linked to metabolism. Towards further developing this view, we call for a closer interaction among physical and biological disciplines and an increased use of electrochemical and biophysical approaches to interrogate cellular metabolism together with the microenvironment in which it exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Zerfaß
- Bio-Electrical Engineering (BEE) Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Munehiro Asally
- Bio-Electrical Engineering (BEE) Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB), University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Orkun S. Soyer
- Bio-Electrical Engineering (BEE) Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB), University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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38
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Zerfaß C, Christie-Oleza JA, Soyer OS. Manganese Oxide Biomineralization Provides Protection against Nitrite Toxicity in a Cell-Density-Dependent Manner. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:e02129-18. [PMID: 30413475 PMCID: PMC6328764 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02129-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Manganese biomineralization is a widespread process among bacteria and fungi. To date, there is no conclusive experimental evidence for how and if this process impacts microbial fitness in the environment. Here, we show how a model organism for manganese oxidation is growth inhibited by nitrite, and that this inhibition is mitigated in the presence of manganese. We show that such manganese-mediated mitigation of nitrite inhibition is dependent on the culture inoculum size, and that manganese oxide (MnOX) forms granular precipitates in the culture, rather than sheaths around individual cells. We provide evidence that MnOX protection involves both its ability to catalyze nitrite oxidation into (nontoxic) nitrate under physiological conditions and its potential role in influencing processes involving reactive oxygen species (ROS). Taken together, these results demonstrate improved microbial fitness through MnOX deposition in an ecological setting, i.e., mitigation of nitrite toxicity, and point to a key role of MnOX in handling stresses arising from ROS.IMPORTANCE We present here a direct fitness benefit (i.e., growth advantage) for manganese oxide biomineralization activity in Roseobacter sp. strain AzwK-3b, a model organism used to study this process. We find that strain AzwK-3b in a laboratory culture experiment is growth inhibited by nitrite in manganese-free cultures, while the inhibition is considerably relieved by manganese supplementation and manganese oxide (MnOX) formation. We show that biogenic MnOX interacts directly with nitrite and possibly with reactive oxygen species and find that its beneficial effects are established through formation of dispersed MnOX granules in a manner dependent on the population size. These experiments raise the possibility that manganese biomineralization could confer protection against nitrite toxicity to a population of cells. They open up new avenues of interrogating this process in other species and provide possible routes to their biotechnological applications, including in metal recovery, biomaterials production, and synthetic community engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Zerfaß
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB), University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph A Christie-Oleza
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB), University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Orkun S Soyer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB), University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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39
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Campbell K, Correia-Melo C, Ralser M. Self-Establishing Communities: A Yeast Model to Study the Physiological Impact of Metabolic Cooperation in Eukaryotic Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2049:263-282. [PMID: 31602617 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9736-7_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
All biosynthetically active cells are able to export and import metabolites, the small molecule intermediaries of metabolism. In dense cell populations, this hallmark of cells results in the intercellular exchange of a wide spectrum of metabolites. Such metabolite exchange enables metabolic specialization of individual cells, leading to far reaching biological implications, as a consequence of the intrinsic connection between metabolism and cell physiology. In this chapter, we discuss methods on how to study metabolite exchange interactions by using self-establishing metabolically cooperating communities (SeMeCos) in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. SeMeCos exploit the stochastic segregation of episomes to progressively increase the number of essential metabolic interdependencies in a community that grows out from an initially prototrophic cell. By coupling genotype to metabotype, SeMeCos allow for the tracking of cells while they specialize metabolically and hence the opportunity to study their progressive change in physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Campbell
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Clara Correia-Melo
- The Molecular Biology of Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.,Department of Biochemistry and Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Markus Ralser
- The Molecular Biology of Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK. .,Institute of Biochemistry, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
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40
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Zengler K, Zaramela LS. The social network of microorganisms - how auxotrophies shape complex communities. Nat Rev Microbiol 2018; 16:383-390. [PMID: 29599459 PMCID: PMC6059367 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-018-0004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms engage in complex interactions with other organisms and their environment. Recent studies have shown that these interactions are not limited to the exchange of electron donors. Most microorganisms are auxotrophs, thus relying on external nutrients for growth, including the exchange of amino acids and vitamins. Currently, we lack a deeper understanding of auxotrophies in microorganisms and how nutrient requirements differ between different strains and different environments. In this Opinion article, we describe how the study of auxotrophies and nutrient requirements among members of complex communities will enable new insights into community composition and assembly. Understanding this complex network over space and time is crucial for developing strategies to interrogate and shape microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsten Zengler
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Livia S Zaramela
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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