Effect Of Interspecies Interactions Research Articles

Interspecies interactions in mixed-species biofilms formed by Enterococcus faecalis and gram-negative bacteria isolated from polymicrobial diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are exacerbated by bacterial colonisation. Here, a high prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis was observed in DFU patients from an Argentinean hospital. E. faecalis was frequently co-isolated with Escherichia coli, Morganella morganii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The effect of interspecies interactions on bacterial growth was investigated in mixed-species macrocolony biofilms developed in Lubbock-Glc-agar. Similar cell counts were found for E. faecalis and M. morganii growing in mixed and single-species biofilms. An E. faecalis strain showed 1 Log higher cell counts in mixed biofilms with E. coli. Remarkably, E. faecalis strains showed 2 to 4 Log higher cell counts in mixed biofilms with P. aeruginosa. This effect was not observed in planktonic growth or biofilms developed in tryptic soy agar. The present findings reveal bacterial interactions that benefit E. faecalis in mixed-species biofilms, mainly with P. aeruginosa, in a medium that partially mimics the nutrients found in DFU.

Understanding the Interactions between Staphylococcus aureus and the Raw-Meat-Processing Environment Isolate Klebsiella oxytoca in Dual-Species Biofilms via Discovering an Altered Metabolic Profile.

In a raw-meat-processing environment, members of the Enterobacteriaceae family can coexist with Staphylococcus aureus to form dual-species biofilms, leading to a higher risk of food contamination. However, very little is known about the effect of inter-species interactions on dual-species biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between S. aureus and raw-meat-processing environment isolates of Klebsiella oxytoca in dual-species biofilms, by employing an untargeted metabolomics tool. Crystal violet staining assay showed that the biomass of the dual-species biofilm significantly increased and reached its maximum after incubation for 21 h, compared with that of single species grown alone. The number of K. oxytoca in the dual-species biofilm was significantly higher than that of S. aureus. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed that both species were evenly distributed, and were tightly wrapped by extracellular polymeric substances in the dual-species biofilms. Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography equipped with a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC-Q-TOF MS) analysis exhibited a total of 8184 positive ions, and 6294 negative ions were obtained from all test samples. Multivariate data analysis further described altered metabolic profiling between mono- and dual-species biofilms. Further, 18 and 21 different metabolites in the dual-species biofilm were screened as biomarkers by comparing the mono-species biofilms of S. aureus and K. oxytoca, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways that were exclusively upregulated in the dual-species biofilm included ABC transporters, amino acid metabolism, and the two-component signal transduction system. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the interactive behavior of inter-species biofilm communities, by discovering altered metabolic profiling.

Parallel Evolution of Enhanced Biofilm Formation and Phage-Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa during Adaptation Process in Spatially Heterogeneous Environments

An opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa has a versatile phenotype and high evolutionary potential to adapt to various natural habitats. As the organism normally lives in spatially heterogeneous and polymicrobial environments from open fields to the inside of hosts, adaptation to abiotic (spatial heterogeneity) and biotic factors (interspecies interactions) is a key process to proliferate. However, our knowledge about the adaptation process of P. aeruginosa in spatially heterogeneous environments associated with other species is limited. We show herein that the evolutionary dynamics of P. aeruginosa PAO1 in spatially heterogeneous environments with Staphylococcus aureus known to coexist in vivo is dictated by two distinct core evolutionary trajectories: (i) the increase of biofilm formation and (ii) the resistance to infection by a filamentous phage which is retained in the PAO1 genome. Hyperbiofilm and/or pili-deficient phage-resistant variants were frequently selected in the laboratory evolution experiment, indicating that these are key adaptive traits under spatially structured conditions. On the other hand, the presence of S. aureus had only a marginal effect on the emergence and maintenance of these variants. These results show key adaptive traits of P. aeruginosa and indicate the strong selection pressure conferred by spatial heterogeneity, which might overwhelm the effect of interspecies interactions.

Phosphorus in Spring Barley and Italian Rye-Grass Biomass as an Effect of Inter-Species Interactions under Water Deficit

With global warming, the problem of soil water deficit is growing in Central Europe, including Poland, and the use of catch crops is recommended to mitigate climate changes. This study aimed to determine the influence of water deficit on phosphorus (P) content and accumulation in the above-ground biomass of spring barley and Italian rye-grass growing separately and in the mixture, and on the inter-species interactions between these crops. The study was based on a pot experiment established in accordance with the additive design. The experimental factors were as follows: A. water supply of the plants: an optimal dose and a dose reduced by 50% in relation to the optimal dose, and B. the sowing type: barley sown as a single species, rye-grass sown as a single species, and barley with rye-grass catch crop. Based on the P accumulation in plant biomass, the relative yield of barley and rye-grass, the total relative yield, and the competitive equilibrium index were determined. Water deficit had no effect on the P content in the plants, but it reduced the P accumulation in barley stems, leaves and spikes, as well as in rye-grass stems and leaves, from the emergence to the end of plants’ growing period, both when the plants were sown as a single species and as a mixture. Barley was a stronger competitor than rye-grass. Inter-species competition occurred at the stem elongation and heading of barley. The intensification of inter-species competition for P under water deficit conditions should be taken into account when recommending the undersowing of barley with rye-grass for sustainable agriculture.

Distinct gene expression profile of Xanthomonas retroflexus engaged in synergistic multispecies biofilm formation.

It is well known that bacteria often exist in naturally formed multispecies biofilms. Within these biofilms, interspecies interactions seem to have an important role in ecological processes. Little is known about the effects of interspecies interactions on gene expression in these multispecies biofilms. This study presents a comparative gene expression analysis of the Xanthomonas retroflexus transcriptome when grown in a single-species biofilm and in dual- and four-species consortia with Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, Microbacterium oxydans and Paenibacillus amylolyticus. The results revealed complex interdependent interaction patterns in the multispecies biofilms. Many of the regulated functions are related to interactions with the external environment and suggest a high phenotypic plasticity in response to coexistence with other species. Furthermore, the changed expression of genes involved in aromatic and branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis suggests nutrient cross feeding as a contributing factor for the observed synergistic biofilm production when these four species coexists in a biofilm.

The effect of interspecies interactions and water deficit on spring barley and red clover biomass accumulation at successive growth stages

<p>A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in Olsztyn, Poland, in the period 2010–2012. The aim of the study was to examine whether soil water deficit would change biomass volume and distribution of pure sown spring barley and red clover as well as growth rate during their joint vegetation and mutual interactions. The interactions between spring barley and red clover were of a competitive character, and the cereal was the stronger crop. The strength of this competition increased in time with the growing season. Through most of the growing season, the competition was poorer in water deficit conditions.</p><p>The impact of clover on barley before the heading stage showed facilitation symptoms. Interspecific competition reduced the rate of barley biomass accumulation and decreased stem and leaf biomass towards the end of the growing season. Intensified translocation of assimilates from the vegetative parts to grain minimized the decrease in spike biomass.</p><p>Water deficit stress had a more inhibitory effect on the biomass and growth rate of barley than competition, and competition did not exacerbate the adverse influence of water deficit stress on barley. Competition from barley significantly reduced the biomass and biomass accumulation rate of clover. Water deficit stress did not exacerbate barley’s competitive effect on clover, but it strongly inhibited the growth of aboveground biomass in pure-sown clover.</p>

Interspecies interactions are an integral determinant of microbial community dynamics.

This study investigated the factors that determine the dynamics of bacterial communities in a complex system using multidisciplinary methods. Since natural and engineered microbial ecosystems are too complex to study, six types of synthetic microbial ecosystems (SMEs) were constructed under chemostat conditions with phenol as the sole carbon and energy source. Two to four phenol-degrading, phylogenetically and physiologically different bacterial strains were used in each SME. Phylogeny was based on the nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA genes, while physiologic traits were based on kinetic and growth parameters on phenol. Two indices, J parameter and “interspecies interaction,” were compared to predict which strain would become dominant in an SME. The J parameter was calculated from kinetic and growth parameters. On the other hand, “interspecies interaction,” a new index proposed in this study, was evaluated by measuring the specific growth activity, which was determined on the basis of relative growth of a strain with or without the supernatant prepared from other bacterial cultures. Population densities of strains used in SMEs were enumerated by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the gene encoding the large subunit of phenol hydroxylase and were compared to predictions made from J parameter and interspecies interaction calculations. In 4 of 6 SEMs tested the final dominant strain shown by real-time qPCR analyses coincided with the strain predicted by both the J parameter and the interspecies interaction. However, in SMEII-2 and SMEII-3 the final dominant Variovorax strains coincided with prediction of the interspecies interaction but not the J parameter. These results demonstrate that the effects of interspecies interactions within microbial communities contribute to determining the dynamics of the microbial ecosystem.

Direct and Indirect Facilitation of Plants with Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)

Plants with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) are increasing their cover in many dryland regions around the world. Their increased dominance has been related to climate warming and atmospheric CO2 fertilization, while the effects of interspecies interactions and the role of CAM plant facilitation by trees and grasses remain poorly understood. Woody plants are known for their ability to directly facilitate CAM plants through amelioration of the abiotic environment. Mechanisms of indirect facilitation of trees on CAM plants in tree–grass–CAM associations, however, have received less attention. It is also unclear whether grasses might facilitate CAM plants in mixed tree–grass–CAM communities. For instance, the inclusion of grasses in tree–CAM associations could enhance hydraulic lift and facilitate CAM plants in their access to shallow soil moisture at the expenses of deep-rooted trees. If this effect outweighs the competitive effects of grasses on CAM plants, grasses could overall facilitate CAM plants through hydraulic lift. Here we develop a process-based ecohydrological model to investigate the direct and indirect facilitation in tree–CAM–grass associations; the model quantifies transpiration of CAM plants when isolated as well as in associations with trees and/or grasses. It is found that woody plants having a high root overlap with CAM plants indirectly facilitate CAM plants by significantly reducing grass transpiration in shaded conditions. For situations of a low-to-moderate root overlap, facilitation may occur both directly and indirectly. Conversely, grasses are unable to indirectly facilitate CAM plants through the mechanism of hydraulic lift because the competitive effects of grasses on CAM plants outweigh the facilitation induced by hydraulic lift.

Effect of interspecies interactions on the collision properties of bright-bright solitons in two-species Bose-Einstein condensates

Considering the time-dependent interspecies interactions, we study the collision properties of bright-bright solitons in two species Bose-Einstein condensates with the harmonic external potentials. It is shown that the collision behaviors of bright-bright solitons can be controlled by adjusting the strength of interspecies interaction and transverse trapping frequency of harmonic potential. Interestingly, the two separate solitons can merge into a single bound complex due to the stronger attractive interspecies interactions. Especially, a transmission collision is obtained from not only attractive but also repulsive interspecies interaction, different from previous theory. When the interspecies interaction is exponentially decreased, a reflection-transmission collision transition is observed for the repulsive interspecies interaction. Meanwhile, an experimental protocol is designed to observe the collision behaviors of the bright-bright solitons in the currently experimental conditions.

Co-Cultures ofPseudomonas aeruginosaandRoseobacter denitrificansReveal Shifts in Gene Expression Levels Compared to Solo Cultures

Consistent biosynthesis of desired secondary metabolites (SMs) from pure microbial cultures is often unreliable. In a proof-of-principle study to induce SM gene expression and production, we describe mixed “co-culturing” conditions and monitoring of messages via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Gene expression of model bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Roseobacter denitrificans Och114) was analyzed in pure solo and mixed cocultures to infer the effects of interspecies interactions on gene expression in vitro, Two P. aeruginosa genes (PhzH coding for portions of the phenazine antibiotic pathway leading to pyocyanin (PCN) and the RhdA gene for thiosulfate: cyanide sulfurtransferase (Rhodanese)) and two R. denitrificans genes (BetaLact for metallo-beta-lactamase and the DMSP gene for dimethylpropiothetin dethiomethylase) were assessed for differential expression. Results showed that R. denitrificans DMSP and BetaLact gene expression became elevated in a mixed culture. In contrast, P. aeruginosa co-cultures with R. denitrificans or a third species did not increase target gene expression above control levels. This paper provides insight for better control of target SM gene expression in vitro and bypass complex genetic engineering manipulations.