Ronin Dana, Hansen Mads Frederik, Flaig Maximilian Lukas, Dahl Dueholm Morten Kam, Hostrup Daugberg Anders Ogechi, Nesme Joseph, Kot Witold, Burmølle Mette
Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
Center for Microbial Communities, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, Aalborg, 9220, Denmark.
Biofilm. 2025 May 24;10:100290. doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100290. eCollection 2025 Dec.
By studying model multispecies biofilm systems, we can further our knowledge regarding why some properties emerge solely in a multispecies setting. In this study, the model system under investigation is composed of four bacterial species: , , and . This community was isolated from soil and has previously shown synergistic biofilm formation capabilities in vitro, along with other intrinsic properties, some of which could lead to potential industrial and agricultural applications. In this study, we conducted the first complete genome assemblies for these four strains and performed a manually curated annotation of the genomes to identify genomic features that could guide the selection of relevant phenotypic assays. In all four strains, we identified genes linked to interspecies communication, biofilm formation, secondary metabolite production, antibiotic resistance, enzymatic activity and metabolism of toxic xenobiotics. With metabolism being the largest gene function category identified, we then conducted growth assays on various carbon sources and relevant polysaccharides. This revealed interesting emergent behaviors - regarding growth and enzymatic activity - in the four-species community which were not seen in the monocultures. Overall, analysis of the complete genomes of this model community uncovered gene functions which could play a role in the previously observed community intrinsic properties, as well as provided insight to the positive social interactions observed in vitro.
通过研究模型多物种生物膜系统，我们可以进一步了解为何某些特性仅在多物种环境中出现。在本研究中，所研究的模型系统由四种细菌组成： 、 、 和 。该群落从土壤中分离得到，此前已在体外显示出协同生物膜形成能力以及其他内在特性，其中一些特性可能会带来潜在的工业和农业应用。在本研究中，我们对这四株菌株进行了首次完整的基因组组装，并对基因组进行了人工精心注释，以识别可指导相关表型分析选择的基因组特征。在所有四株菌株中，我们鉴定出了与种间通讯、生物膜形成、次级代谢产物产生、抗生素抗性、酶活性以及有毒外源性物质代谢相关的基因。由于代谢是所鉴定出的最大基因功能类别，我们随后对各种碳源和相关多糖进行了生长测定。这揭示了四物种群落中在单一培养物中未观察到的有关生长和酶活性的有趣的涌现行为。总体而言，对该模型群落完整基因组的分析揭示了可能在先前观察到的群落内在特性中发挥作用的基因功能，同时也为体外观察到的积极社会相互作用提供了见解。
