Bacterial response to spatial gradients of algal-derived nutrients in a porous microplate
Name
s41396-021-01147-x.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
2.35 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
09744232c01bc146d4e6941fa51c3091
Author(s)
Kim, Hyungseok
Kimbrel, Jeffrey A
Vaiana, Christopher A
Wollard, Jessica R
Mayali, Xavier
Buie, Cullen R
Date Issued
November 17, 2021
Journal
The ISME Journal
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Citation
Kim, Hyungseok, Kimbrel, Jeffrey A, Vaiana, Christopher A, Wollard, Jessica R, Mayali, Xavier et al. 2021. "Bacterial response to spatial gradients of algal-derived nutrients in a porous microplate." The ISME Journal.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Photosynthetic microalgae are responsible for 50% of the global atmospheric CO2 fixation into organic matter and hold potential as a renewable bioenergy source. Their metabolic interactions with the surrounding microbial community (the algal microbiome) play critical roles in carbon cycling, but due to methodological limitations, it has been challenging to examine how community development is influenced by spatial proximity to their algal host. Here we introduce a copolymer-based porous microplate to co-culture algae and bacteria, where metabolites are constantly exchanged between the microorganisms while maintaining physical separation. In the microplate, we found that the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum accumulated to cell abundances ~20 fold higher than under normal batch conditions due to constant replenishment of nutrients through the porous structure. We also demonstrate that algal-associated bacteria, both single isolates and complex communities, responded to inorganic nutrients away from their host as well as organic nutrients originating from the algae in a spatially predictable manner. These experimental findings coupled with a mathematical model suggest that host proximity and algal culture growth phase impact bacterial community development in a taxon-specific manner through organic and inorganic nutrient availability. Our novel system presents a useful tool to investigate universal metabolic interactions between microbes in aquatic ecosystems.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01147-x
