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Investigating the dynamics of microbial consortia in spatially structured environments

Author

Listed:
  • Sonali Gupta

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Tyler D. Ross

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Marcella M. Gomez

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Job L. Grant

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Philip A. Romero

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison
    University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Ophelia S. Venturelli

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The spatial organization of microbial communities arises from a complex interplay of biotic and abiotic interactions, and is a major determinant of ecosystem functions. Here we design a microfluidic platform to investigate how the spatial arrangement of microbes impacts gene expression and growth. We elucidate key biochemical parameters that dictate the mapping between spatial positioning and gene expression patterns. We show that distance can establish a low-pass filter to periodic inputs and can enhance the fidelity of information processing. Positive and negative feedback can play disparate roles in the synchronization and robustness of a genetic oscillator distributed between two strains to spatial separation. Quantification of growth and metabolite release in an amino-acid auxotroph community demonstrates that the interaction network and stability of the community are highly sensitive to temporal perturbations and spatial arrangements. In sum, our microfluidic platform can quantify spatiotemporal parameters influencing diffusion-mediated interactions in microbial consortia.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonali Gupta & Tyler D. Ross & Marcella M. Gomez & Job L. Grant & Philip A. Romero & Ophelia S. Venturelli, 2020. "Investigating the dynamics of microbial consortia in spatially structured environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16200-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16200-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthias Bec & Sylvain Pouzet & Céline Cordier & Simon Barral & Vittore Scolari & Benoit Sorre & Alvaro Banderas & Pascal Hersen, 2024. "Optogenetic spatial patterning of cooperation in yeast populations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Maxime Batsch & Isaline Guex & Helena Todorov & Clara M. Heiman & Jordan Vacheron & Julia A. Vorholt & Christoph Keel & Jan Roelof van der Meer, 2024. "Fragmented micro-growth habitats present opportunities for alternative competitive outcomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Yichao Wu & Chengxia Fu & Caroline L. Peacock & Søren J. Sørensen & Marc A. Redmile-Gordon & Ke-Qing Xiao & Chunhui Gao & Jun Liu & Qiaoyun Huang & Zixue Li & Peiyi Song & Yongguan Zhu & Jizhong Zhou , 2023. "Cooperative microbial interactions drive spatial segregation in porous environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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