scholarly journals Microbial Communities Involved in Anaerobic Degradation of Unsaturated or Saturated Long-Chain Fatty Acids

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 1054-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Z. Sousa ◽  
M. Alcina Pereira ◽  
Alfons J. M. Stams ◽  
M. Madalena Alves ◽  
Hauke Smidt
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Enrichment Culture ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Dgge Profile ◽  
Enrichment Cultures ◽  
Long Chain

ABSTRACTAnaerobic long-chain fatty acid (LCFA)-degrading bacteria were identified by combining selective enrichment studies with molecular approaches. Two distinct enrichment cultures growing on unsaturated and saturated LCFAs were obtained by successive transfers in medium containing oleate and palmitate, respectively, as the sole carbon and energy sources. Changes in the microbial composition during enrichment were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiling of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. Prominent DGGE bands of the enrichment cultures were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A significant part of the retrieved 16S rRNA gene sequences was most similar to those of uncultured bacteria. Bacteria corresponding to predominant DGGE bands in oleate and palmitate enrichment cultures clustered with fatty acid-oxidizing bacteria withinSyntrophomonadaceaeandSyntrophobacteraceaefamilies. A low methane yield, corresponding to 9 to 18% of the theoretical value, was observed in the oleate enrichment, and acetate, produced according to the expected stoichiometry, was not further converted to methane. In the palmitate enrichment culture, the acetate produced was completely mineralized and a methane yield of 48 to 70% was achieved from palmitate degradation. Furthermore, the oleate enrichment culture was able to use palmitate without detectable changes in the DGGE profile. However, the palmitate-specialized consortia degraded oleate only after a lag phase of 3 months, after which the DGGE profile had changed. Two predominant bands appeared, and sequence analysis showed affiliation with theSyntrophomonasgenus. These bands were also present in the oleate enrichment culture, suggesting that these bacteria are directly involved in oleate degradation, emphasizing possible differences between the degradation of unsaturated and saturated LCFAs.

scholarly journals Identification and Cultivation of Anaerobic, Syntrophic Long-Chain Fatty Acid-Degrading Microbes from Mesophilic and Thermophilic Methanogenic Sludges

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 1332-1340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Hatamoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Imachi ◽  
Akiyoshi Ohashi ◽  
Hideki Harada
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Enrichment Culture ◽  
Stable Isotope Probing ◽  
Chain Fatty Acid ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Long Chain Fatty Acid ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Enrichment Cultures ◽  
The Family ◽  
Long Chain

ABSTRACT We investigated long-chain fatty acid (LCFA)-degrading anaerobic microbes by enrichment, isolation, and RNA-based stable isotope probing (SIP). Primary enrichment cultures were made with each of four LCFA substrates (palmitate, stearate, oleate, or linoleate, as the sole energy source) at 55�C or 37�C with two sources of anaerobic granular sludge as the inoculum. After several transfers, we obtained seven stable enrichment cultures in which LCFAs were converted to methane. The bacterial populations in these cultures were then subjected to 16S rRNA gene-based cloning, in situ hybridization, and RNA-SIP. In five of seven enrichment cultures, the predominant bacteria were affiliated with the family Syntrophomonadaceae. The other two enrichment cultures contained different bacterial populations in which the majority of members belonged to the phylum Firmicutes and the class Deltaproteobacteria. After several attempts to isolate these dominant bacteria, strain MPA, belonging to the family Syntrophomonadaceae, and strain TOL, affiliated with the phylum Firmicutes, were successfully isolated. Strain MPA converts palmitate to acetate and methane in syntrophic association with Methanospirillum hungatei. Even though strain TOL assimilated [13C]palmitate in the original enrichment culture, strain TOL has not shown the ability to degrade LCFAs after isolation. These results suggest that microbes involved in the degradation of LCFAs under methanogenic conditions might not belong only to the family Syntrophomonadaceae, as most anaerobic LCFA-degrading microbes do, but may also be found in phylogenetically diverse bacterial groups.

scholarly journals Long-Chain Fatty Acids Degradation by Desulfomonile Species and Proposal of “Candidatus Desulfomonile Palmitatoxidans”

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana I. Alves ◽  
Andreia F. Salvador ◽  
A. Rita Castro ◽  
Ying Zheng ◽  
Bart Nijsse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Sulfate Reduction ◽  
Enrichment Culture ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Long Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Long Chain ◽  
Chain Fatty Acids

Microbial communities with the ability to convert long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) coupled to sulfate reduction can be important in the removal of these compounds from wastewater. In this work, an enrichment culture, able to oxidize the long-chain fatty acid palmitate (C16:0) coupled to sulfate reduction, was obtained from anaerobic granular sludge. Microscopic analysis of this culture, designated HP culture, revealed that it was mainly composed of one morphotype with a typical collar-like cell wall invagination, a distinct morphological feature of the Desulfomonile genus. 16S rRNA gene amplicon and metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) indeed confirmed that the abundant phylotype in HP culture belong to Desulfomonile genus [ca. 92% 16S rRNA gene sequences closely related to Desulfomonile spp.; and ca. 82% whole genome shotgun (WGS)]. Based on similar cell morphology and average nucleotide identity (ANI) (77%) between the Desulfomonile sp. in HP culture and the type strain Desulfomonile tiedjei strain DCB-1T, we propose a novel species designated as “Candidatus Desulfomonile palmitatoxidans.” This bacterium shares 94.3 and 93.6% 16S rRNA gene identity with Desulfomonile limimaris strain DCB-MT and D. tiedjei strain DCB-1T, respectively. Based on sequence abundance of Desulfomonile-morphotype in HP culture, its predominance in the microscopic observations, and presence of several genes coding for enzymes involved in LCFA degradation, the proposed species “Ca. Desulfomonile palmitatoxidans” most probably plays an important role in palmitate degradation in HP culture. Analysis of the growth of HP culture and D. tiedjei strain DCB-1T with short- (butyrate), medium- (caprylate) and long-chain fatty acids (palmitate, stearate, and oleate) showed that both cultures degraded all fatty acids coupled to sulfate reduction, except oleate that was only utilized by HP culture. In the absence of sulfate, neither HP culture, nor D. tiedjei strain DCB-1T degraded palmitate when incubated with Methanobacterium formicicum as a possible methanogenic syntrophic partner. Unlike D. tiedjei strain DCB-1T, “Ca. Desulfomonile palmitatoxidans” lacks reductive dehalogenase genes in its genome, and HP culture was not able to grow by organohalide respiration. An emended description of the genus Desulfomonile is proposed. Our study reveals an unrecognized LCFA degradation feature of the Desulfomonile genus.

scholarly journals Molecular Diversity Assessment of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16s rRNA Gene

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-80
Author(s):  
Umesh Prasad Shrivastava
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
16S Rdna ◽  
Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria ◽  
Melting Behavior ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Dgge Profile ◽  
Diversity Assessment

The rhizobacteria were isolated from rhizosphere of rice plant of different fields of 4 districts of Nepal and 5 districts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, adjoining states of India with Nepal. The DGGE analysis was performed for diversity analysis. For the construction of dendrogram, 16S rRNA gene was amplified by two different sets of primers. The DGGE ladder consisting of PCR amplified products of nine pure bacterial cultures were obtained. The first DGGE ladder was prepared by 400 bp fragment of 16S rDNA with GC clamp and the second DGGE ladder was prepared with 200 bp fragment of 16S rDNA with GC clamp. The perpendicular DGGE of these amplicons based on their melting behavior clearly demonstrated separation of different isolates. The 16S rDNA fragment amplified with primer set of V2-V3 regions with GC clamp showed separation between 40-60% of denaturant. The DGGE profile based on primer set F352T and 519r for various bacteria present in soil samples of 5 districts of India and 4 districts of Nepal revealed that the number of bands which might be specific for diazotrophic isolates varied from 2 to 11. The dendrogram constructed based on DGGE profile of various samples of 5 districts of India and 4 districts of Nepal showed that all the samples could be clustered in nine groups with 58-96% similarity to each other. Among all these 37 samples, only Var-4 and Var-5 showed 100% similarity, no other samples from any site showed 100% similarity. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(1): 72-80

scholarly journals Paucibacter toxinivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium that degrades cyclic cyanobacterial hepatotoxins microcystins and nodularin

2005 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 1563-1568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarkko Rapala ◽  
Katri A. Berg ◽  
Christina Lyra ◽  
R. Maarit Niemi ◽  
Werner Manz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Gene Sequence ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequence ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Rrna Gene Sequence

Thirteen bacterial isolates from lake sediment, capable of degrading cyanobacterial hepatotoxins microcystins and nodularin, were characterized by phenotypic, genetic and genomic approaches. Cells of these isolates were Gram-negative, motile by means of a single polar flagellum, oxidase-positive, weakly catalase-positive and rod-shaped. According to phenotypic characteristics (carbon utilization, fatty acid and enzyme activity profiles), the G+C content of the genomic DNA (66·1–68·0 mol%) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (98·9–100 % similarity) the strains formed a single microdiverse genospecies that was most closely related to Roseateles depolymerans (95·7–96·3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The isolates assimilated only a few carbon sources. Of the 96 carbon sources tested, Tween 40 was the only one used by all strains. The strains were able to mineralize phosphorus from organic compounds, and they had strong leucine arylamidase and chymotrypsin activities. The cellular fatty acids identified from all strains were C16 : 0 (9·8–19 %) and C17 : 1 ω7c (<1–5·8 %). The other predominant fatty acids comprised three groups: summed feature 3 (<1–2·2 %), which included C14 : 0 3-OH and C16 : 1 iso I, summed feature 4 (54–62 %), which included C16 : 1 ω7c and C15 : 0 iso OH, and summed feature 7 (8·5–28 %), which included ω7c, ω9c and ω12t forms of C18 : 1. A more detailed analysis of two strains indicated that C16 : 1 ω7c was the main fatty acid. The phylogenetic and phenotypic features separating our strains from recognized bacteria support the creation of a novel genus and species, for which the name Paucibacter toxinivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 2C20T (=DSM 16998T=HAMBI 2767T=VYH 193597T).

Sphingomonas cynarae sp. nov., a proteobacterium that produces an unusual type of sphingan

2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (Pt_1) ◽  
pp. 72-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelfia Talà ◽  
Marcello Lenucci ◽  
Antonio Gaballo ◽  
Miriana Durante ◽  
Salvatore M. Tredici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Globe Artichoke ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type

Strain SPC-1T was isolated from the phyllosphere of Cynara cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori (wild cardoon), a Mediterranean native plant considered to be the wild ancestor of the globe artichoke and cultivated cardoon. This Gram-stain-negative, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and non-motile strain secreted copious amounts of an exopolysaccharide, formed slimy, viscous, orange-pigmented colonies and grew optimally at around pH 6.0–6.5 and 26–30 °C in the presence of 0–0.5 % NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on comparisons of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that SPC-1T clustered together with species of the genus Sphingomonas sensu stricto. The G+C content of the DNA (66.1 mol%), the presence of Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone, sym-homospermidine as the predominant polyamine, 2-hydroxymyristic acid (C14 : 0 2-OH) as the major hydroxylated fatty acid, the absence of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and the presence of sphingoglycolipid supported this taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that SPC-1T was most closely related to Sphingomonas hankookensis ODN7T, Sphingomonas insulae DS-28T and Sphingomonas panni C52T (98.19, 97.91 and 97.11 % sequence similarities, respectively). However, DNA–DNA hybridization analysis did not reveal any relatedness at the species level. Further differences were apparent in biochemical traits, and fatty acid, quinone and polyamine profiles leading us to conclude that strain SPC-1T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas , for which the name Sphingomonas cynarae sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is SPC-1T ( = JCM 17498T = ITEM 13494T). A component analysis of the exopolysaccharide suggested that it represents a novel type of sphingan containing glucose, rhamnose, mannose and galactose, while glucuronic acid, which is commonly found in sphingans, was not detected.

scholarly journals Oceanibulbus indolifex gen. nov., sp. nov., a North Sea alphaproteobacterium that produces bioactive metabolites

2004 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 1177-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Wagner-Döbler ◽  
Holger Rheims ◽  
Andreas Felske ◽  
Aymen El-Ghezal ◽  
Dirk Flade-Schröder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Gene Sequences ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequences

A water sample from the North Sea was used to isolate the abundant heterotrophic bacteria that are able to grow on complex marine media. Isolation was by serial dilution and spread plating. Phylogenetic analysis of nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that one of the strains, HEL-45T, had 97·4 % sequence similarity to Sulfitobacter mediterraneus and 96·5 % sequence similarity to Staleya guttiformis. Strain HEL-45T is a Gram-negative, non-motile rod and obligate aerobe and requires sodium and 1–7 % sea salts for growth. It contains storage granules and does not produce bacteriochlorophyll. Optimal growth temperatures are 25–30 °C. The DNA base composition (G+C content) is 60·1 mol%. Strain HEL-45T has Q10 as the dominant respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids are phosphatidyl glycerol, diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and an aminolipid. The fatty acids comprise 18 : 1ω7c, 18 : 0, 16 : 1ω7c, 16 : 0, 3-OH 10 : 0, 3-OH 12 : 1 (or 3-oxo 12 : 0) and traces of an 18 : 2 fatty acid. Among the hydroxylated fatty acids only 3-OH 12 : 1 (or 3-oxo 12 : 0) appears to be amide linked, whereas 3-OH 10 : 0 appears to be ester linked. The minor fatty acid components (between 1 and 7 %) allow three subgroups to be distinguished in the Sulfitobacter/Staleya clade, placing HEL-45T into a separate lineage characterized by the presence of 3-OH 12 : 1 (or 3-oxo 12 : 0) and both ester- and amide-linked 16 : 1ω7c phospholipids. HEL-45T produces indole and derivatives thereof, several cyclic dipeptides and thryptanthrin. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and chemotaxonomic data support the description of a new genus and species, to include Oceanibulbus indolifex gen. nov., sp. nov., with the type strain HEL-45T (=DSM 14862T=NCIMB 13983T).

Paracoccus huijuniae sp. nov., an amide pesticide-degrading bacterium isolated from activated sludge of a wastewater biotreatment system

2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (Pt_3) ◽  
pp. 1132-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Na Sun ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Soon-Wo Kwon ◽  
Jian He ◽  
Shun-Gui Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Amide Bond ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type

A facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, Gram-reaction-negative, coccoid to short rod-shaped strain, designated FLN-7T, was isolated from activated sludge of a wastewater biotreatment facility. The strain was able to hydrolyse amide pesticides (e.g. diflubenzuron, propanil, chlorpropham and dimethoate) through amide bond cleavage. Strain FLN-7T grew at 4–42 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0–5.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1.0 %). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain FLN-7T was 66.4±0.5 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified glycolipid. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain FLN-7T was a member of the genus Paracoccus and showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Paracoccus aminovorans JCM 7685T (99.2 %), P. denitrificans DSM 413T (97.8 %), P. yeei CDC G1212T (97.3 %) and P. thiocyanatus THI 011T (97.1 %). Strain FLN-7T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness with P. aminovorans KACC 12261T (36.5±3.4 %), P. denitrificans KACC 12251T (30.5±2.6 %), P. yeei CCUG 46822T (26.2±2.4 %) and P. thiocyanatus KACC 13901T (15.5±0.9 %). Based on the phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization, whole-cell fatty acid composition and biochemical characteristics, strain FLN-7T was clearly distinguished from all recognized species of the genus Paracoccus and should be classified in a novel species, for which the name Paracoccus huijuniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FLN-7T ( = KACC 16242T  = ACCC 05690T).

scholarly journals Murimonas intestini gen. nov., sp. nov., an acetate-producing bacterium of the family Lachnospiraceae isolated from the mouse gut

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (Pt_3) ◽  
pp. 870-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karoline Kläring ◽  
Sarah Just ◽  
Ilias Lagkouvardos ◽  
Laura Hanske ◽  
Dirk Haller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
The Family

Three strains of an anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive coccobacillus were isolated from the intestines of mice. These strains shared 100 % similarity in their 16S rRNA gene sequences, but were distantly related to any described members of the family Lachnospiraceae (<94 %). The most closely related species with names that have standing in nomenclature were Robinsoniella peoriensis , Ruminococcus gnavus , Blautia producta and Clostridium xylanolyticum . Phylogenetic relationships based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis were confirmed by partial sequencing of hsp60 genes. The use of an in-house database search pipeline revealed that the new isolates are most prevalent in bovine gut samples when compared with human and mouse samples for Ruminococcus gnavus and B. producta . All three isolated strains shared similar cellular fatty acid patterns dominated by C16 : 0 methyl ester. Differences in the proportions of C12 : 0 methyl ester, C14 : 0 methyl ester and C18 : 1 cis-11 dimethyl acetal were observed when compared with phylogenetically neighbouring species. The major short-chain fatty acid produced by strain SRB-530-5-HT was acetic acid. This strain tested positive for utilization of d-fructose, d-galacturonic acid, d-malic acid, l-alanyl l-threonine and l-glutamic acid but was negative for utilization of amygdalin, arbutin, α-d-glucose, 3-methyl d-glucose and salicin, in contrast to the type strain of the closest related species Robinsoniella peoriensis . The isolates were not able to use mannitol for growth. Based on genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we propose to create the new genus and species Murimonas intestini gen. nov., sp. nov. to accommodate the three strains SRB-530-5-HT ( = DSM 26524T = CCUG 63391T) (the type strain of Murimonas intestini), SRB-509-4-S-H ( = DSM 27577 = CCUG 64595) and SRB-524-4-S-H ( = DSM 27578 = CCUG 64594).

scholarly journals Characterization of the Community Structure of a Dechlorinating Mixed Culture and Comparisons of Gene Expression in Planktonic and Biofloc-Associated “Dehalococcoides” and Methanospirillum Species

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (21) ◽  
pp. 6709-6719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette R. Rowe ◽  
Brendan J. Lazar ◽  
Robert M. Morris ◽  
Ruth E. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Enrichment Culture ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Hydrogenase Gene

ABSTRACT This study sought to characterize bacterial and archaeal populations in a perchloroethene- and butyrate-fed enrichment culture containing hydrogen-consuming “Dehalococcoides ethenogenes” strain 195 and a Methanospirillum hungatei strain. Phylogenetic characterization of this microbial community was done via 16S rRNA gene clone library and gradient gel electrophoresis analyses. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to quantify populations of “Dehalococcoides” and Archaea and to examine the colocalization of these two groups within culture bioflocs. A technique for enrichment of planktonic and biofloc-associated biomass was developed and used to assess differences in population distribution and gene expression patterns following provision of substrate. On a per-milliliter-of-culture basis, most D. ethenogenes genes (the hydrogenase gene hupL; the highly expressed gene for an oxidoreductase of unknown function, fdhA; the RNA polymerase subunit gene rpoB; and the 16S rRNA gene) showed no statistical difference in expression between planktonic and biofloc enrichments at either time point studied (1 to 2 and 6 h postfeeding). Normalization of transcripts to ribosome (16S rRNA) levels supported that planktonic and biofloc-associated D. ethenogenes had similar gene expression profiles, with one notable exception; planktonic D. ethenogenes showed higher expression of tceA relative to biofloc-associated cells at 6 h postfeeding. These trends were compared to those for the hydrogen-consuming methanogen in the culture, M. hungatei. The vast majority of M. hungatei cells, ribosomes (16S rRNA), and transcripts of the hydrogenase gene mvrD and the housekeeping gene rpoE were observed in the biofloc enrichments. This suggests that, unlike the comparable activity of D. ethenogenes from both enrichments, planktonic M. hungatei is responsible for only a small fraction of the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis in this culture.

scholarly journals Allometry and Ecology of the Bilaterian Gut Microbiome

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e00319-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Sherrill-Mix ◽  
Kevin McCormick ◽  
Abigail Lauder ◽  
Aubrey Bailey ◽  
Laurie Zimmerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Island Biogeography ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Community Construction ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Niche Diversification ◽  
Bacterial Lineages

ABSTRACT Classical ecology provides principles for construction and function of biological communities, but to what extent these apply to the animal-associated microbiota is just beginning to be assessed. Here, we investigated the influence of several well-known ecological principles on animal-associated microbiota by characterizing gut microbial specimens from bilaterally symmetrical animals (Bilateria) ranging from flies to whales. A rigorously vetted sample set containing 265 specimens from 64 species was assembled. Bacterial lineages were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Previously published samples were also compared, allowing analysis of over 1,098 samples in total. A restricted number of bacterial phyla was found to account for the great majority of gut colonists. Gut microbial composition was associated with host phylogeny and diet. We identified numerous gut bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences that diverged deeply from previously studied taxa, identifying opportunities to discover new bacterial types. The number of bacterial lineages per gut sample was positively associated with animal mass, paralleling known species-area relationships from island biogeography and implicating body size as a determinant of community stability and niche complexity. Samples from larger animals harbored greater numbers of anaerobic communities, specifying a mechanism for generating more-complex microbial environments. Predictions for species/abundance relationships from models of neutral colonization did not match the data set, pointing to alternative mechanisms such as selection of specific colonists by environmental niche. Taken together, the data suggest that niche complexity increases with gut size and that niche selection forces dominate gut community construction. IMPORTANCE The intestinal microbiome of animals is essential for health, contributing to digestion of foods, proper immune development, inhibition of pathogen colonization, and catabolism of xenobiotic compounds. How these communities assemble and persist is just beginning to be investigated. Here we interrogated a set of gut samples from a wide range of animals to investigate the roles of selection and random processes in microbial community construction. We show that the numbers of bacterial species increased with the weight of host organisms, paralleling findings from studies of island biogeography. Communities in larger organisms tended to be more anaerobic, suggesting one mechanism for niche diversification. Nonselective processes enable specific predictions for community structure, but our samples did not match the predictions of the neutral model. Thus, these findings highlight the importance of niche selection in community construction and suggest mechanisms of niche diversification.

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