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Li C, Zheng H, Li H, Liu L, Wang J, Ni J. Synthetic Light-Driven Consortia for Carbon-Negative Biosynthesis. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300122. [PMID: 37401840 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic light-driven consortia composed of phototrophs and heterotrophs have attracted increasing attention owing to their potential to be used in sustainable biotechnology. In recent years, synthetic phototrophic consortia have been used to produce bulk chemicals, biofuels, and other valuable bioproducts. In addition, autotrophic-heterotrophic symbiosis systems have potential applications in wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and as a method for phytoplankton bloom control. Here, we discuss progress made on the biosynthesis of phototrophic microbial consortia. In addition, strategies for optimizing the synthetic light-driven consortia are summarized. Moreover, we highlight current challenges and future research directions for the development of robust and controllable synthetic light-driven consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Haotian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Hengrun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Liangxu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jun Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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Ma J, Guo T, Ren M, Chen L, Song X, Zhang W. Cross-feeding between cyanobacterium Synechococcus and Escherichia coli in an artificial autotrophic–heterotrophic coculture system revealed by integrated omics analysis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2022; 15:69. [PMID: 35733176 PMCID: PMC9219151 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-022-02163-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Background Light-driven consortia, which consist of sucrose-secreting cyanobacteria and heterotrophic species, have attracted considerable attention due to their capability for the sustainable production of valuable chemicals directly from CO2. In a previous study, we achieved a one-step conversion of sucrose secreted from cyanobacteria to fine chemicals by constructing an artificial coculture system consisting of sucrose-secreting Synechococcus elongateus cscB+ and 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) producing Escherichia coli ABKm. Analyses of the coculture system showed that the cyanobacterial cells grew better than their corresponding axenic cultures. To explore the underlying mechanism and to identify the metabolic nodes with the potential to further improve the coculture system, we conducted integrated transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses. Results We first explored how the relieved oxidative stress affected cyanobacterial cell growth in a coculture system by supplementing additional ascorbic acid to CoBG-11 medium. We found that the cell growth of cyanobacteria was clearly improved with an additional 1 mM ascorbic acid under axenic culture; however, its growth was still slower than that in the coculture system, suggesting that the improved growth of Synechococcus cscB+ may be caused by multiple factors, including reduced oxidative stress. To further explore the cellular responses of cyanobacteria in the system, quantitative transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics were applied to Synechococcus cscB+. Analyses of differentially regulated genes/proteins and the abundance change of metabolites in the photosystems revealed that the photosynthesis of the cocultured Synechococcus cscB+ was enhanced. The decreased expression of the CO2 transporter suggested that the heterotrophic partner in the system might supplement additional CO2 to support the cell growth of Synechococcus cscB+. In addition, the differentially regulated genes and proteins involved in the nitrogen and phosphate assimilation pathways suggested that the supply of phosphate and nitrogen in the Co-BG11 medium might be insufficient. Conclusion An artificial coculture system capable of converting CO2 to fine chemicals was established and then analysed by integrated omics analysis, which demonstrated that in the coculture system, the relieved oxidative stress and increased CO2 availability improved the cell growth of cyanobacteria. In addition, the results also showed that the supply of phosphate and nitrogen in the Co-BG11 medium might be insufficient, which paves a new path towards the optimization of the coculture system in the future. Taken together, these results from the multiple omics analyses provide strong evidence that beneficial interactions can be achieved from cross-feeding and competition between phototrophs and prokaryotic heterotrophs and new guidelines for engineering more intelligent artificial consortia in the future. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13068-022-02163-5.
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Use of Quartz Sand Columns to Study Far-Red Light Photoacclimation (FaRLiP) in Cyanobacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0056222. [PMID: 35727027 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00562-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Some cyanobacteria can perform far-red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP), which allows them to use far-red light (FRL) for oxygenic photosynthesis. Most of the cyanobacteria able to use FRL were discovered in low visible-light (VL; λ = 400-700 nm) environments that are also enriched in FRL (λ = 700-800 nm). However, these cyanobacteria grow faster in VL than in FRL in laboratory conditions, indicating that FRL is not their preferred light source when VL is available. Therefore, it is interesting to understand why such strains were primarily found in FRL-enriched but not VL-enriched environments. To this aim, we established a terrestrial model system with quartz sand to study the distribution and photoacclimation of cyanobacterial strains. A FaRLiP-performing cyanobacterium, Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1, and a VL-utilizing model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, were compared in this study. We found that, although Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 can grow well in both VL and FRL, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 grows much faster than Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 in VL. In addition, the growth was higher in liquid cocultures than in monocultures of Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 or Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. In an artificial terrestrial model system, Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 has an advantage when growing in coculture at greater depths by performing FaRLiP. Therefore, strong competition for VL and slower growth rate are possible reasons why FRL-utilizing cyanobacteria are found in environments with low VL intensities. This model system provides a valuable tool for future studies of cyanobacterial ecological niches and interactions in a terrestrial environment. IMPORTANCE This study uses sand columns to establish a terrestrial model system for the investigation of the distribution and acclimation of cyanobacteria to far-red light. Previous studies of this group of cyanobacteria required direct in situ samplings. The variability of conditions and abundances of the cyanobacteria in natural settings impeded detailed analyses and comparisons. Therefore, we established this model system under controlled conditions in the laboratory. In this system, the distribution and acclimation of two cyanobacteria were similar to the situation observed in natural environments, which validates that it can be used to study fundamental questions. Using this approach, we made the unanticipated observation that two cyanobacteria grow faster in coculture than in axenic cultures. This laboratory-based model system can provide a valuable new tool for comparing cyanobacterial strains (e.g., mutants and wild type), exploring interactions between cyanobacterial strains and interactions with other bacteria, and characterizing ecological niches of cyanobacteria.
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Synthetic microbial communities of heterotrophs and phototrophs facilitate sustainable growth. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3803. [PMID: 32732991 PMCID: PMC7393147 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17612-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities comprised of phototrophs and heterotrophs hold great promise for sustainable biotechnology. Successful application of these communities relies on the selection of appropriate partners. Here we construct four community metabolic models to guide strain selection, pairing phototrophic, sucrose-secreting Synechococcus elongatus with heterotrophic Escherichia coli K-12, Escherichia coli W, Yarrowia lipolytica, or Bacillus subtilis. Model simulations reveae metabolic exchanges that sustain the heterotrophs in minimal media devoid of any organic carbon source, pointing to S. elongatus-E. coli K-12 as the most active community. Experimental validation of flux predictions for this pair confirms metabolic interactions and potential production capabilities. Synthetic communities bypass member-specific metabolic bottlenecks (e.g. histidine- and transport-related reactions) and compensate for lethal genetic traits, achieving up to 27% recovery from lethal knockouts. The study provides a robust modelling framework for the rational design of synthetic communities with optimized growth sustainability using phototrophic partners.
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Zhang L, Chen L, Diao J, Song X, Shi M, Zhang W. Construction and analysis of an artificial consortium based on the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 to produce the platform chemical 3-hydroxypropionic acid from CO 2. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2020; 13:82. [PMID: 32391082 PMCID: PMC7201998 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-020-01720-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cyanobacterial carbohydrates, such as sucrose, have been considered as potential renewable feedstock to support the production of fuels and chemicals. However, the separation and purification processes of these carbohydrates will increase the production cost of chemicals. Co-culture fermentation has been proposed as an efficient and economical way to utilize these cyanobacterial carbohydrates. However, studies on the application of co-culture systems to achieve green biosynthesis of platform chemicals are still rare. RESULTS In this study, we successfully achieved one-step conversion of sucrose derived from cyanobacteria to fine chemicals by constructing a microbial consortium consisting of the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 and Escherichia coli to sequentially produce sucrose and then the platform chemical 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) from CO2 under photoautotrophic growth conditions. First, efforts were made to overexpress the sucrose permease-coding gene cscB under the strong promoter P cpc560 in S. elongatus UTEX 2973 for efficient sucrose secretion. Second, the sucrose catabolic pathway and malonyl-CoA-dependent 3-HP biosynthetic pathway were introduced into E. coli BL21 (DE3) for heterologous biosynthesis of 3-HP from sucrose. By optimizing the cultivation temperature from 37 to 30 °C, a stable artificial consortium system was constructed with the capability of producing 3-HP at up to 68.29 mg/L directly from CO2. In addition, cell growth of S. elongatus UTEX 2973 in the consortium was enhanced, probably due to the quick quenching of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the system by E. coli, which in turn improved the photosynthesis of cyanobacteria. CONCLUSION The study demonstrated the feasibility of the one-step conversion of sucrose to fine chemicals using an artificial consortium system. The study also confirmed that heterotrophic bacteria could promote the cell growth of cyanobacteria by relieving oxidative stress in this microbial consortium, which further suggests the potential value of this system for future industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People’s Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center of Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Chen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People’s Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center of Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinjin Diao
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People’s Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center of Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Song
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People’s Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center of Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengliang Shi
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People’s Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center of Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiwen Zhang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People’s Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center of Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
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Vijay D, Akhtar MK, Hess WR. Genetic and metabolic advances in the engineering of cyanobacteria. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 59:150-156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Villa F, Cappitelli F. The Ecology of Subaerial Biofilms in Dry and Inhospitable Terrestrial Environments. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7100380. [PMID: 31547498 PMCID: PMC6843906 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecological relationship between minerals and microorganisms arguably represents one of the most important associations in dry terrestrial environments, since it strongly influences major biochemical cycles and regulates the productivity and stability of the Earth’s food webs. Despite being inhospitable ecosystems, mineral substrata exposed to air harbor form complex and self-sustaining communities called subaerial biofilms (SABs). Using life on air-exposed minerals as a model and taking inspiration from the mechanisms of some microorganisms that have adapted to inhospitable conditions, we illustrate the ecology of SABs inhabiting natural and built environments. Finally, we advocate the need for the convergence between the experimental and theoretical approaches that might be used to characterize and simulate the development of SABs on mineral substrates and SABs’ broader impacts on the dry terrestrial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Song HS, Lee JY, Haruta S, Nelson WC, Lee DY, Lindemann SR, Fredrickson JK, Bernstein HC. Minimal Interspecies Interaction Adjustment (MIIA): Inference of Neighbor-Dependent Interactions in Microbial Communities. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1264. [PMID: 31263456 PMCID: PMC6584816 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An intriguing aspect in microbial communities is that pairwise interactions can be influenced by neighboring species. This creates context dependencies for microbial interactions that are based on the functional composition of the community. Context dependent interactions are ecologically important and clearly present in nature, yet firmly established theoretical methods are lacking from many modern computational investigations. Here, we propose a novel network inference method that enables predictions for interspecies interactions affected by shifts in community composition and species populations. Our approach first identifies interspecies interactions in binary communities, which is subsequently used as a basis to infer modulation in more complex multi-species communities based on the assumption that microbes minimize adjustments of pairwise interactions in response to neighbor species. We termed this rule-based inference minimal interspecies interaction adjustment (MIIA). Our critical assessment of MIIA has produced reliable predictions of shifting interspecies interactions that are dependent on the functional role of neighbor organisms. We also show how MIIA has been applied to a microbial community composed of competing soil bacteria to elucidate a new finding that – in many cases – adding fewer competitors could impose more significant impact on binary interactions. The ability to predict membership-dependent community behavior is expected to help deepen our understanding of how microbiomes are organized in nature and how they may be designed and/or controlled in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Seob Song
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Joon-Yong Lee
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Shin Haruta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - William C Nelson
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Dong-Yup Lee
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Stephen R Lindemann
- Whistler Center for Carbohydrate Research, Department of Food Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Jim K Fredrickson
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Hans C Bernstein
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,The Arctic Centre for Sustainable Energy, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Abstract
Simplified microbial communities, or “benchtop microbiomes,” enable us to manage the profound complexity of microbial ecosystems. Widespread activities aiming to design and control communities result in novel resources for testing ecological theories and also for realizing new biotechnologies. Simplified microbial communities, or “benchtop microbiomes,” enable us to manage the profound complexity of microbial ecosystems. Widespread activities aiming to design and control communities result in novel resources for testing ecological theories and also for realizing new biotechnologies. There is much to be gained by reconciling engineering design principles with ecological processes that shape microbiomes in nature. In this short Perspective, I will address how natural processes such as environmental filtering, the establishment of priority effects, and community “blending” (coalescence) can be harnessed for engineering microbiomes from complex starting materials. I will also discuss how future microbiome architects may draw inspiration from modern practices in synthetic biology. This topic is based on an important overarching research goal, which is to understand how natural forces shape microbial communities and interspecies interactions such that new engineering design principles can be extracted to promote human health or energy and environmental sustainability.
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Haruta S, Yamamoto K. Model Microbial Consortia as Tools for Understanding Complex Microbial Communities. Curr Genomics 2018; 19:723-733. [PMID: 30532651 PMCID: PMC6225455 DOI: 10.2174/1389202919666180911131206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A major biological challenge in the postgenomic era has been untangling the composition and functions of microbes that inhabit complex communities or microbiomes. Multi-omics and modern bioinformatics have provided the tools to assay molecules across different cellular and community scales; however, mechanistic knowledge over microbial interactions often remains elusive. This is due to the immense diversity and the essentially undiminished volume of not-yet-cultured microbes. Simplified model communities hold some promise in enabling researchers to manage complexity so that they can mechanistically understand the emergent properties of microbial community interactions. In this review, we surveyed several approaches that have effectively used tractable model consortia to elucidate the complex behavior of microbial communities. We go further to provide some perspectives on the limitations and new opportunities with these approaches and highlight where these efforts are likely to lead as advances are made in molecular ecology and systems biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Haruta
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; Tel: +81-42-677-2580; Fax: +81-42-677-2559; E-mail:
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McClure RS, Overall CC, Hill EA, Song HS, Charania M, Bernstein HC, McDermott JE, Beliaev AS. Species-specific transcriptomic network inference of interspecies interactions. THE ISME JOURNAL 2018; 12:2011-2023. [PMID: 29795448 PMCID: PMC6052077 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0145-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The advent of high-throughput 'omics approaches coupled with computational analyses to reconstruct individual genomes from metagenomes provides a basis for species-resolved functional studies. Here, a mutual information approach was applied to build a gene association network of a commensal consortium, in which a unicellular cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP1 supported the heterotrophic growth of Meiothermus ruber strain A. Specifically, we used the context likelihood of relatedness (CLR) algorithm to generate a gene association network from 25 transcriptomic datasets representing distinct growth conditions. The resulting interspecies network revealed a number of linkages between genes in each species. While many of the linkages were supported by the existing knowledge of phototroph-heterotroph interactions and the metabolism of these two species several new interactions were inferred as well. These include linkages between amino acid synthesis and uptake genes, as well as carbohydrate and vitamin metabolism, terpenoid metabolism and cell adhesion genes. Further topological examination and functional analysis of specific gene associations suggested that the interactions are likely to center around the exchange of energetically costly metabolites between T. elongatus and M. ruber. Both the approach and conclusions derived from this work are widely applicable to microbial communities for identification of the interactions between species and characterization of community functioning as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S McClure
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Christopher C Overall
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Eric A Hill
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Hyun-Seob Song
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Moiz Charania
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Hans C Bernstein
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Jason E McDermott
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Alexander S Beliaev
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
- Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
- Center for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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12
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Heterotroph Interactions Alter Prochlorococcus Transcriptome Dynamics during Extended Periods of Darkness. mSystems 2018; 3:mSystems00040-18. [PMID: 29854954 PMCID: PMC5974335 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00040-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes evolve within complex ecological communities where biotic interactions impact both individual cells and the environment as a whole. Here we examine how cellular regulation in the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is influenced by a heterotrophic bacterium, Alteromonas macleodii, under different light conditions. We monitored the transcriptome of Prochlorococcus, grown either alone or in coculture, across a diel light:dark cycle and under the stress of extended darkness-a condition that cells would experience when mixed below the ocean's euphotic zone. More Prochlorococcus transcripts exhibited 24-h periodic oscillations in coculture than in pure culture, both over the normal diel cycle and after the shift to extended darkness. This demonstrates that biotic interactions, and not just light, can affect timing mechanisms in Prochlorococcus, which lacks a self-sustaining circadian oscillator. The transcriptomes of replicate pure cultures of Prochlorococcus lost their synchrony within 5 h of extended darkness and reflected changes in stress responses and metabolic functions consistent with growth cessation. In contrast, when grown with Alteromonas, replicate Prochlorococcus transcriptomes tracked each other for at least 13 h in the dark and showed signs of continued biosynthetic and metabolic activity. The transcriptome patterns suggest that the heterotroph may be providing energy or essential biosynthetic substrates to Prochlorococcus in the form of organic compounds, sustaining this autotroph when it is deprived of solar energy. Our findings reveal conditions where mixotrophic metabolism may benefit marine cyanobacteria and highlight new impacts of community interactions on basic Prochlorococcus cellular processes. IMPORTANCEProchlorococcus is the most abundant photosynthetic organism on the planet. These cells play a central role in the physiology of surrounding heterotrophs by supplying them with fixed organic carbon. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that interactions with heterotrophs can affect autotrophs as well. Here we show that such interactions have a marked impact on the response of Prochlorococcus to the stress of extended periods of darkness, as reflected in transcriptional dynamics. These data suggest that diel transcriptional rhythms within Prochlorococcus, which are generally considered to be strictly under the control of light quantity, quality, and timing, can also be influenced by biotic interactions. Together, these findings provide new insights into the importance of microbial interactions on Prochlorococcus physiology and reveal conditions where heterotroph-derived compounds may support autotrophs-contrary to the canonical autotroph-to-heterotroph trophic paradigm.
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Effect of light wavelength on hot spring microbial mat biodiversity. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191650. [PMID: 29381713 PMCID: PMC5790269 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hot spring associated phototrophic microbial mats are purely microbial communities, in which phototrophic bacteria function as primary producers and thus shape the community. The microbial mats at Nakabusa hot springs in Japan harbor diverse photosynthetic bacteria, mainly Thermosynechococcus, Chloroflexus, and Roseiflexus, which use light of different wavelength for energy conversion. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the phototrophs on biodiversity and community composition in hot spring microbial mats. For this, we specifically activated the different phototrophs by irradiating the mats with different wavelengths in situ. We used 625, 730, and 890 nm wavelength LEDs alone or in combination and confirmed the hypothesized increase in relative abundance of different phototrophs by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In addition to the increase of the targeted phototrophs, we studied the effect of the different treatments on chemotrophic members. The specific activation of Thermosynechococcus led to increased abundance of several other bacteria, whereas wavelengths specific to Chloroflexus and Roseiflexus induced a decrease in >50% of the community members as compared to the dark conditions. This suggests that the growth of Thermosynechococcus at the surface layer benefits many community members, whereas less benefit is obtained from an increase in filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs Chloroflexus and Roseiflexus. The increases in relative abundance of chemotrophs under different light conditions suggest a relationship between the two groups. Aerobic chemoheterotrophs such as Thermus sp. and Meiothermus sp. are thought to benefit from aerobic conditions and organic carbon in the form of photosynthates by Thermosynechococcus, while the oxidation of sulfide and production of elemental sulfur by filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs benefit the sulfur-disproportionating Caldimicrobium thiodismutans. In this study, we used an experimental approach under controlled environmental conditions for the analysis of natural microbial communities, which proved to be a powerful tool to study interspecies relationships in the microbiome.
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Phenotypic responses to interspecies competition and commensalism in a naturally-derived microbial co-culture. Sci Rep 2018; 8:297. [PMID: 29321512 PMCID: PMC5762899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18630-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The fundamental question of whether different microbial species will co-exist or compete in a given environment depends on context, composition and environmental constraints. Model microbial systems can yield some general principles related to this question. In this study we employed a naturally occurring co-culture composed of heterotrophic bacteria, Halomonas sp. HL-48 and Marinobacter sp. HL-58, to ask two fundamental scientific questions: 1) how do the phenotypes of two naturally co-existing species respond to partnership as compared to axenic growth? and 2) how do growth and molecular phenotypes of these species change with respect to competitive and commensal interactions? We hypothesized – and confirmed – that co-cultivation under glucose as the sole carbon source would result in competitive interactions. Similarly, when glucose was swapped with xylose, the interactions became commensal because Marinobacter HL-58 was supported by metabolites derived from Halomonas HL-48. Each species responded to partnership by changing both its growth and molecular phenotype as assayed via batch growth kinetics and global transcriptomics. These phenotypic responses depended on nutrient availability and so the environment ultimately controlled how they responded to each other. This simplified model community revealed that microbial interactions are context-specific and different environmental conditions dictate how interspecies partnerships will unfold.
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Stoichiometric Network Analysis of Cyanobacterial Acclimation to Photosynthesis-Associated Stresses Identifies Heterotrophic Niches. Processes (Basel) 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/pr5020032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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