Faculty Opinions recommendation of Counteraction of antibiotic production and degradation stabilizes microbial communities.

ABSTRACT The effects of antibiotic production on rhizosphere microbial communities of field-grown Phaseolus vulgaris were assessed by using ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis. Inoculum strains ofRhizobium etli CE3 differing only in trifolitoxin production were used. Trifolitoxin production dramatically reduced the diversity of trifolitoxin-sensitive members of the α subdivision of the class Proteobacteria with little apparent effect on most microbes.

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Counteraction of antibiotic production and degradation stabilizes microbial communities

Nature ◽

10.1038/nature14485 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 521 (7553) ◽

pp. 516-519 ◽

Cited By ~ 149

Author(s):

Eric D. Kelsic ◽

Jeffrey Zhao ◽

Kalin Vetsigian ◽

Roy Kishony

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Antibiotic Production

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Resolving the conflict between antibiotic production and rapid growth by recognition of peptidoglycan of susceptible competitors

10.1101/2021.02.07.430110 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Harsh Maan ◽

Jonathan Friedman ◽

Ilana Kolodkin-Gal

Keyword(s):

Growth Inhibition ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Rapid Growth ◽

Antibiotic Production ◽

Fitness Cost ◽

Systematic Evaluation ◽

Defence Mechanisms ◽

Ecological Concept ◽

Common Strategy ◽

Non Ribosomal Peptides

AbstractMicrobial communities employ a variety of complex strategies to compete successfully against competitors sharing their niche, with antibiotic production being a common strategy of aggression. Here, by systematic evaluation of all non-ribosomal peptides (NRP) produced by B. subtilis clade, we revealed that they acted either synergistically or additively to effectively eliminate phylogenetically distinct competitors. All four major NRP biosynthetic clusters were also imperative for the survival of B. subtilis in a complex community extracted from the rhizosphere. The production of NRP came with a fitness cost manifested in growth inhibition, rendering NRP synthesis uneconomical when growing in proximity to a phylogenetically close species, carrying resistance against the same antibiotics. To resolve this conflict and ease the fitness cost, NRP production was only induced by the presence of peptidoglycan cue from a sensitive competitor. These results experimentally demonstrate a general ecological concept – closely related communities (“self”) are favoured during competition, due to compatibility in attack and defence mechanisms.

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Microbial community profiling applications in plant protection

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2010.63.6575 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 63 ◽

pp. 271-271

Author(s):

E.M. Gerard ◽

J. Monk ◽

S.A. Wakelin ◽

M. O?Callaghan

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Ammonia Oxidation ◽

Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Antibiotic Production ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Disease Suppression ◽

Rrna Genes ◽

Cell Functions

The function and diversity of microbial communities associated with plants insects and soils directly impacts on plant health and production Although community level investigations appear daunting significant gains are being made through the application of molecular biology An important technique involves polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genes from DNA/RNA isolated from the environment removing limitations caused by microbial cultivation PCR amplicons are then separated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) providing a fingerprint of the diversity of that gene within the microbial community This PCRDGGE based method originally targeted the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes present in all microorganisms Other genetic markers are now used including general markers coding for conserved proteins involved in core cell functions or genes essential to activities defining specific functional groups such as ammonia oxidation nitrogen fixation or antibiotic production Reversetranscription PCRDGGE on community RNA can be used to profile metabolically active populations PCRDGGE allows for the rapid comparison of multiple samples and when used in combination with other approaches provides robust information of environmental microbial communities Recent uses in plant protection research include examination of effects of pesticides and biocontrol agents on microbial populations soil disease suppression plant rhizosphere communities microbemineral interactions microbeinsect interactions insect microbiota predator prey studies and community responses to changing farming practices

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A peek in the micro-sized world: a review of design principles, engineering tools, and applications of engineered microbial community

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst20190172 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 399-409

Author(s):

Baizhen Gao ◽

Rushant Sabnis ◽

Tommaso Costantini ◽

Robert Jinkerson ◽

Qing Sun

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

Real Life ◽

Design Principles ◽

Microbial Interactions ◽

Potential Applications ◽

New Gene ◽

Global Biogeochemical Cycles ◽

Synthetic Microbial Communities

Microbial communities drive diverse processes that impact nearly everything on this planet, from global biogeochemical cycles to human health. Harnessing the power of these microorganisms could provide solutions to many of the challenges that face society. However, naturally occurring microbial communities are not optimized for anthropogenic use. An emerging area of research is focusing on engineering synthetic microbial communities to carry out predefined functions. Microbial community engineers are applying design principles like top-down and bottom-up approaches to create synthetic microbial communities having a myriad of real-life applications in health care, disease prevention, and environmental remediation. Multiple genetic engineering tools and delivery approaches can be used to ‘knock-in' new gene functions into microbial communities. A systematic study of the microbial interactions, community assembling principles, and engineering tools are necessary for us to understand the microbial community and to better utilize them. Continued analysis and effort are required to further the current and potential applications of synthetic microbial communities.

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