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Kelliher JM, Johnson LYD, Robinson AJ, Longley R, Hanson BT, Cailleau G, Bindschedler S, Junier P, Chain PSG. Fabricated devices for performing bacterial-fungal interaction experiments across scales. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1380199. [PMID: 39171270 PMCID: PMC11335632 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1380199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Diverse and complex microbiomes are found in virtually every environment on Earth. Bacteria and fungi often co-dominate environmental microbiomes, and there is growing recognition that bacterial-fungal interactions (BFI) have significant impacts on the functioning of their associated microbiomes, environments, and hosts. Investigating BFI in vitro remains a challenge, particularly when attempting to examine interactions at multiple scales of system complexity. Fabricated devices can provide control over both biotic composition and abiotic factors within an experiment to enable the characterization of diverse BFI phenotypes such as modulation of growth rate, production of biomolecules, and alterations to physical movements. Engineered devices ranging from microfluidic chips to simulated rhizosphere systems have been and will continue to be invaluable to BFI research, and it is anticipated that such devices will continue to be developed for diverse applications in the field. This will allow researchers to address specific questions regarding the nature of BFI and how they impact larger microbiome and environmental processes such as biogeochemical cycles, plant productivity, and overall ecosystem resilience. Devices that are currently used for experimental investigations of bacteria, fungi, and BFI are discussed herein along with some of the associated challenges and several recommendations for future device design and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Kelliher
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Leah Y. D. Johnson
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Aaron J. Robinson
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Reid Longley
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Buck T. Hanson
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Guillaume Cailleau
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Saskia Bindschedler
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Pilar Junier
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick S. G. Chain
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
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Bielčik M, Schlägel UE, Schäfer M, Aguilar-Trigueros CA, Lakovic M, Sosa-Hernández MA, Hammer EC, Jeltsch F, Rillig MC. Aligning spatial ecological theory with the study of clonal organisms: the case of fungal coexistence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024. [PMID: 39073180 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13119] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Established ecological theory has focused on unitary organisms, and thus its concepts have matured into a form that often hinders rather than facilitates the ecological study of modular organisms. Here, we use the example of filamentous fungi to develop concepts that enable integration of non-unitary (modular) organisms into the established community ecology theory, with particular focus on its spatial aspects. In doing so, we provide a link between fungal community ecology and modern coexistence theory (MCT). We first show how community processes and predictions made by MCT can be used to define meaningful scales in fungal ecology. This leads to the novel concept of the unit of community interactions (UCI), a promising conceptual tool for applying MCT to communities of modular organisms with indeterminate clonal growth and hierarchical individuality. We outline plausible coexistence mechanisms structuring fungal communities, and show at what spatial scales and in what habitats they are most likely to act. We end by describing challenges and opportunities for empirical and theoretical research in fungal competitive coexistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloš Bielčik
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr.34, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Microbial Biogeochemistry, Research Area Landscape Functioning, Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Str.84, Müncheberg, 15374, Germany
| | - Ulrike E Schlägel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Am Mühlenberg 3, House 60, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany
| | - Merlin Schäfer
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Am Mühlenberg 3, House 60, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany
- Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Alte Messe 6, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Carlos A Aguilar-Trigueros
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr.34, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Building R2, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, New South Wales, 2751, Australia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Seminaarinkatu 15, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland
| | - Milica Lakovic
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr.34, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Moisés A Sosa-Hernández
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr.34, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Edith C Hammer
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, Lund University, Ekologihuset, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 22362, Sweden
| | - Florian Jeltsch
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr.34, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Am Mühlenberg 3, House 60, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, Berlin, 14195, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr.34, Berlin, 14195, Germany
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3
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Camenzind T, Aguilar-Trigueros CA, Hempel S, Lehmann A, Bielcik M, Andrade-Linares DR, Bergmann J, Dela Cruz J, Gawronski J, Golubeva P, Haslwimmer H, Lartey L, Leifheit E, Maaß S, Marhan S, Pinek L, Powell JR, Roy J, Veresoglou SD, Wang D, Wulf A, Zheng W, Rillig MC. Towards establishing a fungal economics spectrum in soil saprobic fungi. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3321. [PMID: 38637578 PMCID: PMC11026409 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47705-7] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Trait-based frameworks are promising tools to understand the functional consequences of community shifts in response to environmental change. The applicability of these tools to soil microbes is limited by a lack of functional trait data and a focus on categorical traits. To address this gap for an important group of soil microorganisms, we identify trade-offs underlying a fungal economics spectrum based on a large trait collection in 28 saprobic fungal isolates, derived from a common grassland soil and grown in culture plates. In this dataset, ecologically relevant trait variation is best captured by a three-dimensional fungal economics space. The primary explanatory axis represents a dense-fast continuum, resembling dominant life-history trade-offs in other taxa. A second significant axis reflects mycelial flexibility, and a third one carbon acquisition traits. All three axes correlate with traits involved in soil carbon cycling. Since stress tolerance and fundamental niche gradients are primarily related to the dense-fast continuum, traits of the 2nd (carbon-use efficiency) and especially the 3rd (decomposition) orthogonal axes are independent of tested environmental stressors. These findings suggest a fungal economics space which can now be tested at broader scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Camenzind
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Carlos A Aguilar-Trigueros
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Stefan Hempel
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Anika Lehmann
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Milos Bielcik
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana R Andrade-Linares
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Joana Bergmann
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), 15374, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Jeane Dela Cruz
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessie Gawronski
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Polina Golubeva
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Haslwimmer
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology department, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 27, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Linda Lartey
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Leifheit
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Maaß
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Marhan
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology department, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 27, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Liliana Pinek
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeff R Powell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Julien Roy
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Stavros D Veresoglou
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Dongwei Wang
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Wulf
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Weishuang Zheng
- Marine Institute for Bioresources and Environment, Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
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4
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Richter F, Calonne-Salmon M, van der Heijden MGA, Declerck S, Stanley CE. AMF-SporeChip provides new insights into arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal asymbiotic hyphal growth dynamics at the cellular level. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1930-1946. [PMID: 38416560 PMCID: PMC10964749 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00859b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with the majority of land plants and deliver a wide range of soil-based ecosystem services. Due to their conspicuous belowground lifestyle in a dark environment surrounded by soil particles, much is still to be learned about the influence of environmental (i.e., physical) cues on spore germination, hyphal morphogenesis and anastomosis/hyphal healing mechanisms. To fill existing gaps in AMF knowledge, we developed a new microfluidic platform - the AMF-SporeChip - to visualise the foraging behaviour of germinating Rhizophagus and Gigaspora spores and confront asymbiotic hyphae with physical obstacles. In combination with timelapse microscopy, the fungi could be examined at the cellular level and in real-time. The AMF-SporeChip allowed us to acquire movies with unprecedented visual clarity and therefore identify various exploration strategies of AMF asymbiotic hyphae. We witnessed tip-to-tip and tip-to-side hyphal anastomosis formation. Anastomosis involved directed hyphal growth in a "stop-and-go" manner, yielding visual evidence of pre-anastomosis signalling and decision-making. Remarkably, we also revealed a so-far undescribed reversible cytoplasmic retraction, including the formation of up to 8 septa upon retraction, as part of a highly dynamic space navigation, probably evolved to optimise foraging efficiency. Our findings demonstrated how AMF employ an intricate mechanism of space searching, involving reversible cytoplasmic retraction, branching and directional changes. In turn, the AMF-SporeChip is expected to open many future frontiers for AMF research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Richter
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Maryline Calonne-Salmon
- Laboratory of Mycology, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Marcel G A van der Heijden
- Agroecology and Environment Research Division, Agroscope, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stéphane Declerck
- Laboratory of Mycology, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Claire E Stanley
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
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5
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Ugolini GS, Wang M, Secchi E, Pioli R, Ackermann M, Stocker R. Microfluidic approaches in microbial ecology. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1394-1418. [PMID: 38344937 PMCID: PMC10898419 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00784g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Microbial life is at the heart of many diverse environments and regulates most natural processes, from the functioning of animal organs to the cycling of global carbon. Yet, the study of microbial ecology is often limited by challenges in visualizing microbial processes and replicating the environmental conditions under which they unfold. Microfluidics operates at the characteristic scale at which microorganisms live and perform their functions, thus allowing for the observation and quantification of behaviors such as growth, motility, and responses to external cues, often with greater detail than classical techniques. By enabling a high degree of control in space and time of environmental conditions such as nutrient gradients, pH levels, and fluid flow patterns, microfluidics further provides the opportunity to study microbial processes in conditions that mimic the natural settings harboring microbial life. In this review, we describe how recent applications of microfluidic systems to microbial ecology have enriched our understanding of microbial life and microbial communities. We highlight discoveries enabled by microfluidic approaches ranging from single-cell behaviors to the functioning of multi-cellular communities, and we indicate potential future opportunities to use microfluidics to further advance our understanding of microbial processes and their implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Stefano Ugolini
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Miaoxiao Wang
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Roberto Pioli
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Martin Ackermann
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Microbial Systems Ecology, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roman Stocker
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
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6
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Simon E, Guseva K, Darcy S, Alteio L, Pjevac P, Schmidt H, Jenab K, Ranits C, Kaiser C. Distinct microbial communities are linked to organic matter properties in millimetre-sized soil aggregates. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae156. [PMID: 39105276 PMCID: PMC11325450 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae156] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Soils provide essential ecosystem services and represent the most diverse habitat on Earth. It has been suggested that the presence of various physico-chemically heterogeneous microhabitats supports the enormous diversity of microbial communities in soil. However, little is known about the relationship between microbial communities and their immediate environment at the micro- to millimetre scale. In this study, we examined whether bacteria, archaea, and fungi organize into distinct communities in individual 2-mm-sized soil aggregates and compared them to communities of homogenized bulk soil samples. Furthermore, we investigated their relationship to their local environment by concomitantly determining microbial community structure and physico-chemical properties from the same individual aggregates. Aggregate communities displayed exceptionally high beta-diversity, with 3-4 aggregates collectively capturing more diversity than their homogenized parent soil core. Up to 20%-30% of ASVs (particularly rare ones) were unique to individual aggregates selected within a few centimetres. Aggregates and bulk soil samples showed partly different dominant phyla, indicating that taxa that are potentially driving biogeochemical processes at the small scale may not be recognized when analysing larger soil volumes. Microbial community composition and richness of individual aggregates were closely related to aggregate-specific carbon and nitrogen content, carbon stable-isotope composition, and soil moisture, indicating that aggregates provide a stable environment for sufficient time to allow co-development of communities and their environment. We conclude that the soil microbiome is a metacommunity of variable subcommunities. Our study highlights the necessity to study small, spatially coherent soil samples to better understand controls of community structure and community-mediated processes in soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Simon
- Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ksenia Guseva
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sean Darcy
- Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lauren Alteio
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, FFoQSI GmbH, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannes Schmidt
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Kian Jenab
- Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Ranits
- Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Kaiser
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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7
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Candry P, Godfrey BJ, Winkler MKH. Microbe-cellulose hydrogels as a model system for particulate carbon degradation in soil aggregates. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae068. [PMID: 38800124 PMCID: PMC11126157 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Particulate carbon (C) degradation in soils is a critical process in the global C cycle governing greenhouse gas fluxes and C storage. Millimeter-scale soil aggregates impose strong controls on particulate C degradation by inducing chemical gradients of e.g. oxygen, as well as limiting microbial mobility in pore structures. To date, experimental models of soil aggregates have incorporated porosity and chemical gradients but not particulate C. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept encapsulating microbial cells and particulate C substrates in hydrogel matrices as a novel experimental model for soil aggregates. Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum was co-encapsulated with cellulose in millimeter-scale polyethyleneglycol-dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) hydrogel beads. Microbial activity was delayed in hydrogel-encapsulated conditions, with cellulose degradation and fermentation activity being observed after 13 days of incubation. Unexpectedly, hydrogel encapsulation shifted product formation of R. cellulolyticum from an ethanol-lactate-acetate mixture to an acetate-dominated product profile. Fluorescence microscopy enabled simultaneous visualization of the PEGDMA matrix, cellulose particles, and individual cells in the matrix, demonstrating growth on cellulose particles during incubation. Together, these microbe-cellulose-PEGDMA hydrogels present a novel, reproducible experimental soil surrogate to connect single cells to process outcomes at the scale of soil aggregates and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Candry
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, 201 More Hall, Seattle, WA 98195-2700, United States
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands. E-mail:
| | - Bruce J Godfrey
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, 201 More Hall, Seattle, WA 98195-2700, United States
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8
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Mafla-Endara PM, Meklesh V, Beech JP, Ohlsson P, Pucetaite M, Hammer EC. Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduces bacterial and fungal biomass in microfabricated soil models. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166503. [PMID: 37633381 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166503] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics have been proven to induce toxicity in diverse organisms, yet their effect on soil microbes like bacteria and fungi remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we used micro-engineered soil models to investigate the effect of polystyrene (PS) nanospheres on Pseudomonas putida and Coprinopsis cinerea. Specifically, we explored the effects of increasing concentrations of 60 nm carboxylated bovine serum albumin (BSA) coated nanospheres (0, 0.5, 2, and 10 mg/L) on these bacterial and fungal model organisms respectively, over time. We found that both microorganisms could disperse through the PS solution, but long-distance dispersal was reduced by high concentrations. Microbial biomass decreased in all treatments, in which bacteria showed a linear dose response with the strongest effect at 10 mg/L concentration, and fungi showed a non-linear response with the strongest effect at 2 mg/L concentration. At the highest nanoplastics concentration, the first colonizing fungal hyphae adsorbed most of the PS nanospheres present in their vicinity, in a process that we termed the 'vacuum cleaner effect'. As a result, the toxicity effect of the original treatment on subsequently growing fungal hyphae was reduced to a growth level indistinguishable from the control. We did not find evidence that nanoplastics are able to penetrate bacterial nor fungal cell walls. Overall, our findings provide evidence that nanoplastics can cause a direct negative effect on soil microbes and highlight the need for further studies that can explain how the microbial stress response might affect soil functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola M Mafla-Endara
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC), Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Viktoriia Meklesh
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC), Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Physical Chemistry Division, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jason P Beech
- Division of Solid State Physics, Department of Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pelle Ohlsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Edith C Hammer
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC), Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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9
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Anilkumar A, Batra A, Talukder S, Sharma R. Microfluidics based bioimaging with cost-efficient fabrication of multi-level micrometer-sized trenches. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:034103. [PMID: 37334275 PMCID: PMC10275646 DOI: 10.1063/5.0151868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices, through their vast applicability as tools for miniaturized experimental setups, have become indispensable for cutting edge research and diagnostics. However, the high operational cost and the requirement of sophisticated equipment and clean room facility for the fabrication of these devices make their use unfeasible for many research laboratories in resource limited settings. Therefore, with the aim of increasing accessibility, in this article, we report a novel, cost-effective micro-fabrication technique for fabricating multi-layer microfluidic devices using only common wet-lab facilities, thereby significantly lowering the cost. Our proposed process-flow-design eliminates the need for a mastermold, does not require any sophisticated lithography tools, and can be executed successfully outside a clean room. In this work, we also optimized the critical steps (such as spin coating and wet etching) of our fabrication process and validated the process flow and the device by trapping and imaging Caenorhabditis elegans. The fabricated devices are effective in conducting lifetime assays and flushing out larvae, which are, in general, manually picked from Petri dishes or separated using sieves. Our technique is not only cost effective but also scalable, as it can be used to fabricate devices with multiple layers of confinements ranging from 0.6 to more than 50 μ m, thus enabling the study of unicellular and multicellular organisms. This technique, therefore, has the potential to be adopted widely by many research laboratories for a variety of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Anilkumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Abhilasha Batra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Santanu Talukder
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Rati Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
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10
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Kaiser CF, Perilli A, Grossmann G, Meroz Y. Studying root-environment interactions in structured microdevices. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023:erad122. [PMID: 37042515 PMCID: PMC10353529 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In negotiating with the environment, plant roots integrate sensory information over space and time, as the basis of decision making in roots under non-uniform conditions. The complexity and dynamic properties of soil across spatial and temporal scales pose a significant technical challenge for research on mechanisms that drive metabolism, growth and development in roots, as well as on inter-organismal networks in the rhizosphere. Synthetic environments, combining microscopic access and manipulation capabilities with soil-like heterogeneity, are needed to elucidate the intriguing tug-of-war that characterises subsurface ecosystems. Microdevices have provided opportunities for innovative approaches to observe, analyse and manipulate plant roots and advanced our understanding of their development, physiology and interactions with the environment. Initially conceived as perfusion platforms for root cultivation under hydroponic conditions, microdevice design has, in recent years, increasingly shifted to better reflect the complex growth conditions in soil. Heterogeneous micro-environments have been created through co-cultivation with microbes, laminar flow-based local stimulation and physical obstacles and constraints. As such, structured microdevices provide an experimental entry point to the complex network behaviour of soil communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian-Frederic Kaiser
- Institute of Cell and Interaction Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- CEPLAS - Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alessia Perilli
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Guido Grossmann
- Institute of Cell and Interaction Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- CEPLAS - Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yasmine Meroz
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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11
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Arellano-Caicedo C, Ohlsson P, Bengtsson M, Beech JP, Hammer EC. Habitat complexity affects microbial growth in fractal maze. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1448-1458.e4. [PMID: 36933553 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
The great variety of earth's microorganisms and their functions are attributed to the heterogeneity of their habitats, but our understanding of the impact of this heterogeneity on microbes is limited at the microscale. In this study, we tested how a gradient of spatial habitat complexity in the form of fractal mazes influenced the growth, substrate degradation, and interactions of the bacterial strain Pseudomonas putida and the fungal strain Coprinopsis cinerea. These strains responded in opposite ways: complex habitats strongly reduced fungal growth but, in contrast, increased the abundance of bacteria. Fungal hyphae did not reach far into the mazes and forced bacteria to grow in deeper regions. Bacterial substrate degradation strongly increased with habitat complexity, even more than bacterial biomass, up to an optimal depth, while the most remote parts of the mazes showed both decreased biomass and substrate degradation. These results suggest an increase in enzymatic activity in confined spaces, where areas may experience enhanced microbial activity and resource use efficiency. Very remote spaces showing a slower turnover of substrates illustrate a mechanism which may contribute to the long-term storage of organic matter in soils. We demonstrate here that the sole effect of spatial microstructures affects microbial growth and substrate degradation, leading to differences in local microscale spatial availability. These differences might add up to considerable changes in nutrient cycling at the macroscale, such as contributing to soil organic carbon storage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pelle Ohlsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Ole Römers väg 3, 223 63 Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Bengtsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Ole Römers väg 3, 223 63 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jason P Beech
- Division of Solid State Physics, Lund University, Sölvegatan 16, 223 63 Lund, Sweden
| | - Edith C Hammer
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, CEC, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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12
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Microbial-Based Products to Control Soil-Borne Pathogens: Methods to Improve Efficacy and to Assess Impacts on Microbiome. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010224. [PMID: 36677516 PMCID: PMC9867489 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial-based products (either as biopesticide or biofertilizers) have a long history of application, though their use is still limited, mainly due to a perceived low and inconsistent efficacy under field conditions. However, their efficacy has always been compared to chemical products, which have a completely different mechanism of action and production process, following the chemical paradigm of agricultural production. This paradigm has also been applied to regulatory processes, particularly for biopesticides, making the marketing of microbial-based formulations difficult. Increased knowledge about bioinocula behavior after application to the soil and their impact on soil microbiome should foster better exploitation of microbial-based products in a complex environment such as the soil. Moreover, the multifunctional capacity of microbial strains with regard to plant growth promotion and protection should also be considered in this respect. Therefore, the methods utilized for these studies are key to improving the knowledge and understanding of microbial-based product activity and improving their efficacy, which, from farmers' point of view, is the parameter to assess the usefulness of a treatment. In this review, we are thus addressing aspects related to the production and formulation process, highlighting the methods that can be used to evaluate the functioning and impact of microbial-based products on soil microbiome, as tools supporting their use and marketing.
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13
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Bourguignon N, Alessandrello M, Booth R, Lobo CB, Juárez Tomás MS, Cumbal L, Perez M, Bhansali S, Ferrero M, Lerner B. Bioremediation on a chip: A portable microfluidic device for efficient screening of bacterial biofilm with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon removal capacity. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 303:135001. [PMID: 35605730 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pollutants of critical environmental and public health concern and their elimination from contaminated sites is significant for the environment. Biodegradation studies have demonstrated the ability of bacteria in biofilm conformation to enhance the biodegradation of pollutants. In this study, we used our newly developed microfluidic platform to explore biofilm development, properties, and applications of fluid flow, as a new technique for screening PAHs-degrading biofilms. The optimization and evaluation of the flow condition in the microchannels were performed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The formation of biofilms by PAHs-degrading bacteria Pseudomonas sp. P26 and Gordonia sp. H19, as pure cultures and co-culture, was obtained in the developed microchips. The removal efficiencies of acenaphthene, fluoranthene and pyrene were determined by HPLC. All the biofilms formed in the microchips removed all tested PAHs, with the higher removal percentages observed with the Pseudomonas sp. P26 biofilm (57.4% of acenaphthene, 40.9% of fluoranthene, and 28.9% of pyrene). Pseudomonas sp. P26 biofilm removed these compounds more efficiently than planktonic cultures. This work proved that the conformation of biofilms enhances the removal rate. It also provided a new tool to rapid and low-cost screen for effective pollutant-degrading biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Bourguignon
- IREN Center, National Technological University, Buenos Aires, 1706, Argentina; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33174, USA
| | - Mauricio Alessandrello
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI, CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Ross Booth
- Roche Sequencing Solutions, Inc., 4300 Hacienda Dr, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, USA
| | - Constanza Belén Lobo
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI, CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | | | - Luis Cumbal
- Centro de Nanociencia y Nanotecnologia, Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. Gral. Rumiñahui s/n, Sangolqui, P.O. BOX 171-5-231B, Ecuador
| | - Maximiliano Perez
- IREN Center, National Technological University, Buenos Aires, 1706, Argentina; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33174, USA
| | - Shekhar Bhansali
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33174, USA
| | - Marcela Ferrero
- YPF Tecnologia, Av. del Petróleo Argentino, 900-1198, Berisso, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Betiana Lerner
- IREN Center, National Technological University, Buenos Aires, 1706, Argentina; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33174, USA.
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14
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Richter F, Bindschedler S, Calonne-Salmon M, Declerck S, Junier P, Stanley CE. Fungi-on-a-Chip: microfluidic platforms for single-cell studies on fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6674677. [PMID: 36001464 PMCID: PMC9779915 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review highlights new advances in the emerging field of 'Fungi-on-a-Chip' microfluidics for single-cell studies on fungi and discusses several future frontiers, where we envisage microfluidic technology development to be instrumental in aiding our understanding of fungal biology. Fungi, with their enormous diversity, bear essential roles both in nature and our everyday lives. They inhabit a range of ecosystems, such as soil, where they are involved in organic matter degradation and bioremediation processes. More recently, fungi have been recognized as key components of the microbiome in other eukaryotes, such as humans, where they play a fundamental role not only in human pathogenesis, but also likely as commensals. In the food sector, fungi are used either directly or as fermenting agents and are often key players in the biotechnological industry, where they are responsible for the production of both bulk chemicals and antibiotics. Although the macroscopic fruiting bodies are immediately recognizable by most observers, the structure, function, and interactions of fungi with other microbes at the microscopic scale still remain largely hidden. Herein, we shed light on new advances in the emerging field of Fungi-on-a-Chip microfluidic technologies for single-cell studies on fungi. We discuss the development and application of microfluidic tools in the fields of medicine and biotechnology, as well as in-depth biological studies having significance for ecology and general natural processes. Finally, a future perspective is provided, highlighting new frontiers in which microfluidic technology can benefit this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Richter
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Saskia Bindschedler
- Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Maryline Calonne-Salmon
- Laboratory of Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Stéphane Declerck
- Laboratory of Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Pilar Junier
- Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Claire E Stanley
- Corresponding author: Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom. E-mail:
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15
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Lee KK, Kim H, Lee YH. Cross-kingdom co-occurrence networks in the plant microbiome: Importance and ecological interpretations. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:953300. [PMID: 35958158 PMCID: PMC9358436 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.953300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial co-occurrence network analysis is being widely used for data exploration in plant microbiome research. Still, challenges lie in how well these microbial networks represent natural microbial communities and how well we can interpret and extract eco-evolutionary insights from the networks. Although many technical solutions have been proposed, in this perspective, we touch on the grave problem of kingdom-level bias in network representation and interpretation. We underscore the eco-evolutionary significance of using cross-kingdom (bacterial-fungal) co-occurrence networks to increase the network’s representability of natural communities. To do so, we demonstrate how ecosystem-level interpretation of plant microbiome evolution changes with and without multi-kingdom analysis. Then, to overcome oversimplified interpretation of the networks stemming from the stereotypical dichotomy between bacteria and fungi, we recommend three avenues for ecological interpretation: (1) understanding dynamics and mechanisms of co-occurrence networks through generalized Lotka-Volterra and consumer-resource models, (2) finding alternative ecological explanations for individual negative and positive fungal-bacterial edges, and (3) connecting cross-kingdom networks to abiotic and biotic (host) environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiseok Keith Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yong-Hwan Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Agricultural Genomics, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Center for Plant Microbiome Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Plant Immunity Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Yong-Hwan Lee,
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16
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Djemiel C, Dequiedt S, Karimi B, Cottin A, Horrigue W, Bailly A, Boutaleb A, Sadet-Bourgeteau S, Maron PA, Chemidlin Prévost-Bouré N, Ranjard L, Terrat S. Potential of Meta-Omics to Provide Modern Microbial Indicators for Monitoring Soil Quality and Securing Food Production. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:889788. [PMID: 35847063 PMCID: PMC9280627 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.889788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Soils are fundamental resources for agricultural production and play an essential role in food security. They represent the keystone of the food value chain because they harbor a large fraction of biodiversity—the backbone of the regulation of ecosystem services and “soil health” maintenance. In the face of the numerous causes of soil degradation such as unsustainable soil management practices, pollution, waste disposal, or the increasing number of extreme weather events, it has become clear that (i) preserving the soil biodiversity is key to food security, and (ii) biodiversity-based solutions for environmental monitoring have to be developed. Within the soil biodiversity reservoir, microbial diversity including Archaea, Bacteria, Fungi and protists is essential for ecosystem functioning and resilience. Microbial communities are also sensitive to various environmental drivers and to management practices; as a result, they are ideal candidates for monitoring soil quality assessment. The emergence of meta-omics approaches based on recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics has remarkably improved our ability to characterize microbial diversity and its potential functions. This revolution has substantially filled the knowledge gap about soil microbial diversity regulation and ecology, but also provided new and robust indicators of agricultural soil quality. We reviewed how meta-omics approaches replaced traditional methods and allowed developing modern microbial indicators of the soil biological quality. Each meta-omics approach is described in its general principles, methodologies, specificities, strengths and drawbacks, and illustrated with concrete applications for soil monitoring. The development of metabarcoding approaches in the last 20 years has led to a collection of microbial indicators that are now operational and available for the farming sector. Our review shows that despite the recent huge advances, some meta-omics approaches (e.g., metatranscriptomics or meta-proteomics) still need developments to be operational for environmental bio-monitoring. As regards prospects, we outline the importance of building up repositories of soil quality indicators. These are essential for objective and robust diagnosis, to help actors and stakeholders improve soil management, with a view to or to contribute to combining the food and environmental quality of next-generation farming systems in the context of the agroecological transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Djemiel
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Samuel Dequiedt
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Battle Karimi
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- Novasol Experts, Dijon, France
| | - Aurélien Cottin
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Walid Horrigue
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Arthur Bailly
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Ali Boutaleb
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Pierre-Alain Maron
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | | | - Lionel Ranjard
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- Lionel Ranjard,
| | - Sébastien Terrat
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- *Correspondence: Sébastien Terrat,
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17
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Arellano-Caicedo C, Ohlsson P, Bengtsson M, Beech JP, Hammer EC. Habitat geometry in artificial microstructure affects bacterial and fungal growth, interactions, and substrate degradation. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1226. [PMID: 34702996 PMCID: PMC8548513 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02736-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Microhabitat conditions determine the magnitude and speed of microbial processes but have been challenging to investigate. In this study we used microfluidic devices to determine the effect of the spatial distortion of a pore space on fungal and bacterial growth, interactions, and substrate degradation. The devices contained channels differing in bending angles and order. Sharper angles reduced fungal and bacterial biomass, especially when angles were repeated in the same direction. Substrate degradation was only decreased by sharper angles when fungi and bacteria were grown together. Investigation at the cellular scale suggests that this was caused by fungal habitat modification, since hyphae branched in sharp and repeated turns, blocking the dispersal of bacteria and the substrate. Our results demonstrate how the geometry of microstructures can influence microbial activity. This can be transferable to soil pore spaces, where spatial occlusion and microbial feedback on microstructures is thought to explain organic matter stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pelle Ohlsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Bengtsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jason P Beech
- Division of Solid State Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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