FEMS Microbiology Reviews,
Journal Year:
2016,
Volume and Issue:
40(3), P. 373 - 397
Published: Feb. 18, 2016
Biofilms
are
a
major
form
of
microbial
life
in
which
cells
dense
surface
associated
communities
that
can
persist
for
many
generations.
The
long-life
biofilm
means
they
be
strongly
shaped
by
evolutionary
processes.
Here,
we
review
the
experimental
study
evolution
communities.
We
first
provide
an
overview
different
models
used
to
and
their
advantages
disadvantages.
then
illustrate
vast
amount
diversification
observed
during
evolution,
discuss
(i)
potential
ecological
processes
behind
diversification,
(ii)
recent
insights
into
genetics
adaptive
(iii)
striking
degree
parallelism
between
experiments
real-life
biofilms
(iv)
consequences
diversification.
In
second
part,
provided
how
growth
structure
promote
cooperative
phenotypes.
Overall,
our
analysis
points
important
role
cooperation
bacterial
survival
productivity.
Deeper
understanding
both
is
key
importance
design
improved
antimicrobial
strategies
diagnostic
techniques.
Science,
Journal Year:
2015,
Volume and Issue:
350(6261), P. 663 - 666
Published: Nov. 5, 2015
What
makes
the
gut
microbiome
stable?
Classically,
we
think
of
our
as
stable,
benign,
and
cooperative.
Recent
experimental
work
is
beginning
to
unpick
essential
functions
that
can
be
attributed
stable
microbiota
humans.
To
able
manipulate
improve
health,
need
understand
community
structure
composition
models
quantify
predict
stability.
Coyte
et
al.
applied
concepts
tools
from
ecology
assembly.
Independently
developed
converged
on
a
surprising
answer:
A
high
diversity
species
likely
coexist
stably
when
system
dominated
by
competitive,
rather
than
cooperative,
interactions.
Science
,
this
issue
p.
663
Environmental Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2016,
Volume and Issue:
19(4), P. 1366 - 1378
Published: Dec. 30, 2016
Summary
The
composition
and
function
of
the
mammalian
gut
microbiota
has
been
subject
much
research
in
recent
years,
but
principles
underlying
assembly
structure
this
complex
community
remain
incompletely
understood.
Processes
that
shape
are
thought
to
be
mostly
niche‐driven,
with
environmental
factors
such
as
available
nutrients
largely
determining
whether
or
not
an
organism
can
establish.
concept
nutrient
landscape
dictates
which
organisms
successfully
colonize
persist
was
first
proposed
Rolf
Freter's
niche
theory.
In
a
situation
where
perfectly
mixed
there
is
balanced
microbial
growth,
Freter
postulated
only
survive
if
it
able
utilize
one
few
limiting
more
efficiently
than
its
competitors.
Recent
experimental
work
indicates,
however,
vary
space
time.
We
propose
scenario,
theory
must
expanded
account
for
co‐existence
microorganisms
utilizing
same
distinct
sites
at
different
times,
metabolic
flexibility
mixed‐substrate
utilization
common
strategies
survival
face
ever‐present
fluctuations.
PLoS Biology,
Journal Year:
2015,
Volume and Issue:
13(7), P. e1002191 - e1002191
Published: July 9, 2015
Bacteria
form
dense
surface-associated
communities
known
as
biofilms
that
are
central
to
their
persistence
and
how
they
affect
us.
Biofilm
formation
is
commonly
viewed
a
cooperative
enterprise,
where
strains
species
work
together
for
common
goal.
Here
we
explore
an
alternative
model:
biofilm
response
ecological
competition.
We
co-cultured
diverse
collection
of
natural
isolates
the
opportunistic
pathogen
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
studied
effect
on
formation.
show
strain
mixing
reliably
increases
compared
unmixed
conditions.
Importantly,
leads
strong
competition:
one
dominates
largely
excludes
other
from
biofilm.
Furthermore,
pyocins,
narrow-spectrum
antibiotics
made
by
P.
strains,
can
stimulate
increasing
attachment
cells.
Side-by-side
comparisons
using
microfluidic
assays
suggest
increase
in
occurs
due
general
cellular
damage:
comparable
pyocins
disrupt
membranes
commercial
damage
DNA,
inhibit
protein
synthesis
or
transcription.
Our
data
bacteria
competition
detected
antibiotic
stress.
This
inconsistent
with
idea
sub-lethal
concentrations
signals
coordinate
microbial
communities,
often
concluded.
Instead,
our
consistent
sensing
low-levels
used
detect
respond
competing
genotypes
produce
them.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
116(32), P. 15979 - 15984
Published: July 3, 2019
Competition
between
microbes
is
extremely
common,
with
many
investing
in
mechanisms
to
harm
other
strains
and
species.
Yet
positive
interactions
species
have
also
been
documented.
What
makes
help
or
each
currently
unclear.
Here,
we
studied
the
4
bacterial
capable
of
degrading
metal
working
fluids
(MWF),
an
industrial
coolant
lubricant,
which
contains
growth
substrates
as
well
toxic
biocides.
We
were
surprised
find
only
neutral
Using
mathematical
modeling
further
experiments,
show
that
this
community
likely
due
toxicity
MWF,
whereby
species'
detoxification
benefited
others
by
facilitating
their
survival,
such
they
could
grow
degrade
MWF
better
when
together.
The
addition
nutrients,
reduction
toxicity,
more
instead
resulted
competitive
behavior.
Our
work
provides
support
stress
gradient
hypothesis
showing
how
harsh,
environments
can
strongly
favor
facilitation
microbial
mask
underlying
interactions.