TY - BOOK

T1 - Unravelling the mechanisms of bacterial interactions in model communities

AU - Herschend, Jakob

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Microbial communities, such as microbial biofilms, are dynamic structuralcommunities. The architecture and function of these communities is shaped by theinteraction with the surrounding environment and by the interactions betweencommunity members. In most natural and man-made environments, microbialcommunities host a plethora of different species. The community is a heterogeneousstructure with pH, oxygen and nutrient gradients creating suitable niches for adiversity of life. Manuscript IV shows how different environments create uniqueniches for different microbial communities, and that bacteria in different niches havedifferent potential for interacting.Understanding the development of microbial communities is indispensable asmicrobial communities, such as biofilms, are highly associated with chronic infections,colonization of catheters and implants. Biofilms have also been associated with croppromotion and pathogenicity and contamination of food products with spoilage andpotential pathogenic strains. Additionally, the use of microbial communities forbioremediation, wastewater treatment and bio-energy could provide environmentallyfriendly and low-cost alternatives to current technologies.Unravelling the mechanisms influencing community development is not simple, as thecommunity is often the result of a range of mechanism all acting simultaneously. Bystudying simpler model communities it is possible to restrict the diversity of actingmechanisms, and study them individually. Using this approach, we show how a rangeof mechanisms can influence community development of mixed species. InManuscript I we present how metabolic interplay can cause pH stabilization of theenvironment, which in turn enhances community growth. Manuscript II identifiescross feeding on amino acids as a potential driver for community development, whileemphasising that competition for limited resources also affect communitydevelopment. Manuscript V shows how facilitation of surface attachment can promotecommunity formation and how sharing of public goods can promote communityprotection. Finally Manuscript III shows how individual mechanisms can affect eachother over time, and select for unique phenotypes in the community.

AB - Microbial communities, such as microbial biofilms, are dynamic structuralcommunities. The architecture and function of these communities is shaped by theinteraction with the surrounding environment and by the interactions betweencommunity members. In most natural and man-made environments, microbialcommunities host a plethora of different species. The community is a heterogeneousstructure with pH, oxygen and nutrient gradients creating suitable niches for adiversity of life. Manuscript IV shows how different environments create uniqueniches for different microbial communities, and that bacteria in different niches havedifferent potential for interacting.Understanding the development of microbial communities is indispensable asmicrobial communities, such as biofilms, are highly associated with chronic infections,colonization of catheters and implants. Biofilms have also been associated with croppromotion and pathogenicity and contamination of food products with spoilage andpotential pathogenic strains. Additionally, the use of microbial communities forbioremediation, wastewater treatment and bio-energy could provide environmentallyfriendly and low-cost alternatives to current technologies.Unravelling the mechanisms influencing community development is not simple, as thecommunity is often the result of a range of mechanism all acting simultaneously. Bystudying simpler model communities it is possible to restrict the diversity of actingmechanisms, and study them individually. Using this approach, we show how a rangeof mechanisms can influence community development of mixed species. InManuscript I we present how metabolic interplay can cause pH stabilization of theenvironment, which in turn enhances community growth. Manuscript II identifiescross feeding on amino acids as a potential driver for community development, whileemphasising that competition for limited resources also affect communitydevelopment. Manuscript V shows how facilitation of surface attachment can promotecommunity formation and how sharing of public goods can promote communityprotection. Finally Manuscript III shows how individual mechanisms can affect eachother over time, and select for unique phenotypes in the community.

UR - https://soeg.kb.dk/permalink/45KBDK_KGL/fbp0ps/alma99122120830205763

M3 - Ph.D. thesis

BT - Unravelling the mechanisms of bacterial interactions in model communities

PB - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen

ER -