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Cohen Y, Johnke J, Abed-Rabbo A, Pasternak Z, Chatzinotas A, Jurkevitch E. Unbalanced predatory communities and a lack of microbial degraders characterize the microbiota of a highly sewage-polluted Eastern-Mediterranean stream. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae069. [PMID: 38684474 PMCID: PMC11099661 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater pollution of water resources takes a heavy toll on humans and on the environment. In highly polluted water bodies, self-purification is impaired, as the capacity of the riverine microbes to regenerate the ecosystem is overwhelmed. To date, information on the composition, dynamics and functions of the microbial communities in highly sewage-impacted rivers is limited, in particular in arid and semi-arid environments. In this year-long study of the highly sewage-impacted Al-Nar/Kidron stream in the Barr al-Khalil/Judean Desert east of Jerusalem, we show, using 16S and 18S rRNA gene-based community analysis and targeted qPCR, that both the bacterial and micro-eukaryotic communities, while abundant, exhibited low stability and diversity. Hydrolyzers of organics compounds, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus recyclers were lacking, pointing at reduced potential for regeneration. Furthermore, facultative bacterial predators were almost absent, and the obligate predators Bdellovibrio and like organisms were found at very low abundance. Finally, the micro-eukaryotic predatory community differed from those of other freshwater environments. The lack of essential biochemical functions may explain the stream's inability to self-purify, while the very low levels of bacterial predators and the disturbed assemblages of micro-eukaryote predators present in Al-Nar/Kidron may contribute to community instability and disfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Cohen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
- Presently at DayTwo, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Julia Johnke
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Zohar Pasternak
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
- Presently at the Division of Identification and Forensic Science, Israel Police, National Headquarters
| | - Antonis Chatzinotas
- Department of Applied Microbial Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Talstrasse 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Edouard Jurkevitch
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
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2
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Zhang L, Guo L, Cui Z, Ju F. Exploiting predatory bacteria as biocontrol agents across ecosystems. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:398-409. [PMID: 37951768 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.10.005] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Predatory bacteria have been increasingly known for their ubiquity in environments and great functional potentials in controlling unwanted microorganisms. Fundamental understanding of the predation mechanisms, population dynamics, and interaction patterns underlying bacterial predation is required for wise exploitation of predatory bacteria for enhancing ecoenvironmental, animal, and human health. Here, we review the recent achievements on applying predatory bacteria in different systems as biocontrol agents and living antibiotics as well as new findings in their phylogenetic diversity and predation mechanisms. We finally propose critical issues that deserve priority research and highlight the necessity to combine classic culture-based and advanced culture-independent approaches to push research frontiers of bacterial predation across ecosystems for promising biocontrol and therapy strategies towards a sustainable ecoenvironment and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lingyun Guo
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhongli Cui
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Ju
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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3
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Liu J, Wang J, Zhang M, Wang X, Guo P, Li Q, Ren J, Wei Y, Wu T, Chai B. Protists play important roles in the assembly and stability of denitrifying bacterial communities in copper-tailings drainage. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170386. [PMID: 38280613 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170386] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Unraveling the drivers controlling the assembly and stability of functional communities is a central issue in ecology. Despite extensive research and data, relatively little attention has been paid on the importance of biotic factors and, in particular, on the trophic interaction for explaining the assembly of microbial community. Here, we examined the diversity, assembly, and stability of nirS-, nirK-, and nosZ-type denitrifying bacterial communities in copper-tailings drainages of the Shibahe tailings reservoir in Zhongtiao Mountain, China's. We found that components of nirS-, nirK-, and nosZ-type denitrifying bacterial community diversity, such as taxon relative abundance, richness, and copy number, were strongly correlated with protist community composition and diversity. Assembly of the nirK-type denitrifying bacterial community was governed by dispersal limitation, whereas those of nirS- and nosZ-type communities were controlled by homogeneous selection. The relative importance of protist diversity in the assembly of nirK- and nosZ-type denitrifying bacterial communities was greater than that in nirS-type assembly. In addition, protists reduced the stability of the co-occurrence network of the nosZ-type denitrifying bacterial community. Compared with eukaryotic algae, protozoa had a greater impact on the stability of denitrifying bacterial community co-occurrence networks. Generally, protists affected the assembly and community stability of denitrifying bacteria in copper-tailings drainages. Our findings thus emphasize the importance of protists on affecting the assembly and community stability of denitrifying bacteria in copper-tailings drainages and may be useful for predicting changes in the ecological functions of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxian Liu
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jiayi Wang
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Meiting Zhang
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Ping Guo
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Qianru Li
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jiali Ren
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Yuqi Wei
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Tiehang Wu
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460-8042, USA
| | - Baofeng Chai
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration for Loess Plateau, Taiyuan 030006, China.
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4
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Zhang Y, Deng Y, Wang C, Li S, Lau FTK, Zhou J, Zhang T. Effects of operational parameters on bacterial communities in Hong Kong and global wastewater treatment plants. mSystems 2024; 9:e0133323. [PMID: 38411061 PMCID: PMC10949511 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01333-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are indispensable biotechnology facilities for modern cities and play an essential role in modern urban infrastructure by employing microorganisms to remove pollutants in wastewater, thus protecting public health and the environment. This study conducted a 13-month bacterial community survey of six full-scale WWTPs in Hong Kong with samples of influent, activated sludge (AS), and effluent to explore their synchronism and asynchronism of bacterial community. Besides, we compared AS results of six Hong Kong WWTPs with data from 1,186 AS amplicon data in 269 global WWTPs and a 9-year metagenomic sequencing survey of a Hong Kong WWTP. Our results showed the compositions of bacterial communities varied and the bacterial community structure of AS had obvious differences across Hong Kong WWTPs. The co-occurrence analysis identified 40 pairs of relationships that existed among Hong Kong WWTPs to show solid associations between two species and stochastic processes took large proportions for the bacterial community assembly of six WWTPs. The abundance and distribution of the functional bacteria in worldwide and Hong Kong WWTPs were examined and compared, and we found that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria had more diversity than nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Besides, Hong Kong WWTPs could make great contributions to the genome mining of microbial dark matter in the global "wanted list." Operational parameters had important effects on OTUs' abundance, such as the temperature to the genera of Tetrasphaera, Gordonia and Nitrospira. All these results obtained from this study can deepen our understanding of the microbial ecology in WWTPs and provide foundations for further studies. IMPORTANCE Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an indispensable component of modern cities, as they can remove pollutants in wastewater to prevent anthropogenic activities. Activated sludge (AS) is a fundamental wastewater treatment process and it harbors a highly complex microbial community that forms the main components and contains functional groups. Unveiling "who is there" is a long-term goal of the research on AS microbiology. High-throughput sequencing provides insights into the inventory diversity of microbial communities to an unprecedented level of detail. At present, the analysis of communities in WWTPs usually comes from a specific WWTP and lacks comparisons and verification among different WWTPs. The wide-scale and long-term sampling project and research in this study could help us evaluate the AS community more accurately to find the similarities and different results for different WWTPs in Hong Kong and other regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chunxiao Wang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuxian Li
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frankie T. K. Lau
- Drainage Services Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Wanchai, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jizhong Zhou
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, and School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
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5
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Mun W, Choi SY, Upatissa S, Mitchell RJ. Predatory bacteria as potential biofilm control and eradication agents in the food industry. Food Sci Biotechnol 2023; 32:1729-1743. [PMID: 37780591 PMCID: PMC10533476 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-023-01310-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are a major concern within the food industry since they have the potential to reduce productivity in situ (within the field), impact food stability and storage, and cause downstream food poisoning. Within this review, predatory bacteria as potential biofilm control and eradication agents are discussed, with a particular emphasis on the intraperiplasmic Bdellovibrio-and-like organism (BALO) grouping. After providing a brief overview of predatory bacteria and their activities, focus is given to how BALOs fulfill four attributes that are essential for biocontrol agents to be successful in the food industry: (1) Broad spectrum activity against pathogens, both plant and human; (2) Activity against biofilms; (3) Safety towards humans and animals; and (4) Compatibility with food. As predatory bacteria possess all of these characteristics, they represent a novel form of biofilm biocontrol that is ripe for use within the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsik Mun
- School of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919 South Korea
| | - Seong Yeol Choi
- School of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919 South Korea
| | - Sumudu Upatissa
- School of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919 South Korea
| | - Robert J. Mitchell
- School of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919 South Korea
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6
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Kamada S, Wakabayashi R, Naganuma T. Phylogenetic Revisit to a Review on Predatory Bacteria. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1673. [PMID: 37512846 PMCID: PMC10385382 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Predatory bacteria, along with the biology of their predatory behavior, have attracted interest in terms of their ecological significance and industrial applications, a trend that has been even more pronounced since the comprehensive review in 2016. This mini-review does not cover research trends, such as the role of outer membrane vesicles in myxobacterial predation, but provides an overview of the classification and newly described taxa of predatory bacteria since 2016, particularly with regard to phylogenetic aspects. Among them, it is noteworthy that in 2020 there was a major phylogenetic reorganization that the taxa hosting Bdellovibrio and Myxococcus, formerly classified as Deltaproteobacteria, were proposed as the new phyla Bdellovibrionota and Myxococcota, respectively. Predatory bacteria have been reported from other phyla, especially from the candidate divisions. Predatory bacteria that prey on cyanobacteria and predatory cyanobacteria that prey on Chlorella have also been found. These are also covered in this mini-review, and trans-phylum phylogenetic trees are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saki Kamada
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Ryoka Wakabayashi
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Takeshi Naganuma
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima 739-8528, Japan
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7
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Sason G, Yedidia I, Nussinovitch A, Chalegoua E, Pun M, Jurkevitch E. Self-demise of soft rot bacteria by activation of microbial predators by pectin-based carriers. Microb Biotechnol 2023. [PMID: 37209364 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft rot pectobacteria (SRP) are phytopathogens of the genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya that cause soft rots on a wide range of crops and ornamental plants. SRP produce plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs), including pectinases. Bdellovibrio and like organisms are bacterial predators that can prey on a variety of Gram-negative species, including SRP. In this research, a low methoxyl pectin (LMP)-based immobilization system for B. bacteriovorus is established. It takes advantage that pectin residues induce PCWDE secretion by the pathogens, bringing upon the release of the encapsulated predators. Three commercial LMPs differing in the degree of esterification (DE) and amidation (DA) were tested as potential carriers, by examining their effect on SRP growth, enzymes secretion and substrate breakdown. A clear advantage was observed for pectin 5 CS with the lowest DE and DA content. The degradation of 5 CS pectin-based carriers was further optimized by reducing cross-linker and pectin concentration, by adding gelatin and by dehydration. This resulted in SRP-induced disintegration of the carrier within 72 h. The released encapsulated predator caused a large decrease in SRP population while its own significantly increased, demonstrating the efficiency of this system in which the pathogen brings about its own demise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gal Sason
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Iris Yedidia
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel
| | - Amos Nussinovitch
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Errikos Chalegoua
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel
| | - Manoj Pun
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel
| | - Edouard Jurkevitch
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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8
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Inoue D, Nakamura S, Sugiyama T, Ike M. Potential of Predatory Bacteria to Colonize the Duckweed Microbiome and Change Its Structure: A Model Study Using the Obligate Predatory Bacterium, Bacteriovorax sp. HI3. Microbes Environ 2023; 38:ME23040. [PMID: 37690850 PMCID: PMC10522839 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me23040] [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: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Modifying the duckweed microbiome is a major challenge for enhancing the effectiveness of duckweed-based wastewater treatment and biomass production technologies. We herein examined the potential of the exogenous introduction of predatory bacteria to change the duckweed microbiome. Bacteriovorax sp. HI3, a model predatory bacterium, colonized the core of the Lemna microbiome, and its predatory behavior changed the microbiome structure, which correlated with colonization density. These results reveal that bacterial predatory interactions may be important drivers that shape the duckweed microbiome, suggesting their potential usefulness in modifying the microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Inoue
- Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Osaka University, 2–1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565–0871, Japan
| | - So Nakamura
- Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Osaka University, 2–1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565–0871, Japan
| | - Tomomi Sugiyama
- Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Osaka University, 2–1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565–0871, Japan
| | - Michihiko Ike
- Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Osaka University, 2–1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565–0871, Japan
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Summers JK, Kreft JU. The role of mathematical modelling in understanding prokaryotic predation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1037407. [PMID: 36643414 PMCID: PMC9835096 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1037407] [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: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance impacting both human and animal health, novel means of treating resistant infections are urgently needed. Bacteriophages and predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus have been proposed as suitable candidates for this role. Microbes also play a key environmental role as producers or recyclers of nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen, and predators have the capacity to be keystone species within microbial communities. To date, many studies have looked at the mechanisms of action of prokaryotic predators, their safety in in vivo models and their role and effectiveness under specific conditions. Mathematical models however allow researchers to investigate a wider range of scenarios, including aspects of predation that would be difficult, expensive, or time-consuming to investigate experimentally. We review here a history of modelling in prokaryote predation, from simple Lotka-Volterra models, through increasing levels of complexity, including multiple prey and predator species, and environmental and spatial factors. We consider how models have helped address questions around the mechanisms of action of predators and have allowed researchers to make predictions of the dynamics of predator-prey systems. We examine what models can tell us about qualitative and quantitative commonalities or differences between bacterial predators and bacteriophage or protists. We also highlight how models can address real-world situations such as the likely effectiveness of predators in removing prey species and their potential effects in shaping ecosystems. Finally, we look at research questions that are still to be addressed where models could be of benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Kimberley Summers
- Wellington Lab, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom,Kreft Lab, Institute of Microbiology and Infection and Centre for Computational Biology and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: J. Kimberley Summers,
| | - Jan-Ulrich Kreft
- Kreft Lab, Institute of Microbiology and Infection and Centre for Computational Biology and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom,Jan-Ulrich Kreft,
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The Stimulation of Indigenous Bacterial Antagonists by γ-Glutamyl- S-Allyl-l-Cysteine Increases Soil Suppressiveness to Fusarium Wilt. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0155422. [PMID: 36445356 PMCID: PMC9765066 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01554-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of suppressive soil is an ideal strategy to sustainably combat soilborne diseases. Previously, the cultivation of Allium plants increased antagonistic bacteria populations in soil, alleviating Fusarium wilt of different crops. This study aimed to identify a compound produced by Allium plants that can induce bacteria-mediated soil suppressiveness toward Fusarium wilt. The amendment of soils with γ-glutamyl-S-allyl-l-cysteine (GSAC), a unique dipeptide abundantly detected in the root extract of Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum), significantly suppressed Fusarium wilt diseases, whereas three other commercial dipeptides had no such effects. GSAC application did not suppress the disease in sterilized soil. Furthermore, the suppressiveness of soil amended with GSAC could be transferred to sterilized soil via soil microflora transplantation. This suppressiveness was eliminated by pretreating GSAC-amended soil microflora with antibacterial antibiotics, indicating that the suppressiveness of GSAC-amended soil is generated by the activity of antagonistic bacteria. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that GSAC application significantly increased the relative abundance of Pseudomonas (OTU224), Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia (OTU387), and Bdellovibrio (OTU1259) in soils. Surprisingly, the relative abundance of OTU224 was significantly greater in Welsh onion rhizospheres than in noncultivated soil. Pseudomonas strains corresponding to OTU224, isolated from Welsh onion rhizospheres, displayed a remarkable suppressive effect against cucumber Fusarium wilt, implying that OTU224 was involved in GSAC-mediated suppressiveness. This is the first study on the potential of GSAC as a soil microflora-manipulating agent that can enhance soil suppressiveness to Fusarium wilt. IMPORTANCE Methods for increasing soil suppressiveness via soil microflora manipulation have long been explored as an ideal strategy to protect plants from soilborne pathogens. However, viable methods offering consistent disease control effects have not yet been developed. Previously, the cultivation of Allium plants was demonstrated to induce bacteria-mediated soil suppressiveness to Fusarium wilt of different crop plants. This study discovered that the application of γ-glutamyl-S-allyl-l-cysteine, a unique dipeptide synthesized by Welsh onion, to soil enhances Fusarium wilt suppressiveness by increasing the relative abundance of indigenous antagonistic bacteria irrespective of the soil type. This finding will facilitate research supporting the development of environmentally friendly control measures for soilborne diseases.
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11
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Matan O, Jurkevitch E. Predation of antibiotic persister bacteria by the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:239-244. [PMID: 35247032 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ofra Matan
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Edouard Jurkevitch
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
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12
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Mookherjee A, Jurkevitch E. Interactions between Bdellovibrio and like organisms and bacteria in biofilms: beyond predator-prey dynamics. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:998-1011. [PMID: 34816563 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) prey on Gram-negative bacteria in the planktonic phase as well as in biofilms, with the ability to reduce prey populations by orders of magnitude. During the last few years, evidence has mounted for a significant ecological role for BALOs, with important implications for our understanding of microbial community dynamics as well as for applications against pathogens, including drug-resistant pathogens, in medicine, agriculture and aquaculture, and in industrial settings for various uses. However, our understanding of biofilm predation by BALOs is still very fragmentary, including gaps in their effect on biofilm structure, on prey resistance, and on evolutionary outcomes of both predators and prey. Furthermore, their impact on biofilms has been shown to reach beyond predation, as they are reported to reduce biofilm structures of non-prey cells (including Gram-positive bacteria). Here, we review the available literature on BALOs in biofilms, extending known aspects to potential mechanisms employed by the predators to grow in biofilms. Within that context, we discuss the potential ecological significance and potential future utilization of the predatory and enzymatic possibilities offered by BALOs in medical, agricultural and environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhirup Mookherjee
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Edouard Jurkevitch
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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