Bacteria Are Omnipresent on Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burdsall

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Phanerochaete chrysosporium is a white rot fungus known for degrading lignocellulosic materials.
• Fungal-bacterial associations can influence biodegradation processes.
• The specific microbial communities associated with P. chrysosporium are not well-characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate bacterial associations with Phanerochaete chrysosporium.
• To identify bacterial species associated with P. chrysosporium.
• To determine if bacterial associations are unique to P. chrysosporium compared to other rot fungi.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and culturing of bacteria from 10 strains of P. chrysosporium.
• Attempts to eliminate associated bacteria from the fungus.
• Identification of bacterial isolates using taxonomic methods (including rRNA analysis).
• Screening of other white rot and brown rot fungi for bacterial associations.

Main Results:

• One or more bacterial species were consistently isolated from all 10 P. chrysosporium strains.
• Attempts to eliminate bacteria from P. chrysosporium were unsuccessful.
• Three distinct bacterial species were identified: Agrobacterium radiobacter, a potential new Burkholderia taxon, and an unidentified rRNA superfamily IV member.
• No bacterial associations were found in 23 other white rot fungi or 9 brown rot fungi.

Conclusions:

• Phanerochaete chrysosporium consistently harbors specific bacterial associates.
• The identified bacteria, including Agrobacterium radiobacter and a novel taxon, are closely linked to P. chrysosporium.
• This fungal-bacterial association appears specific to P. chrysosporium among the investigated rot fungi.
• The ecological and physiological significance of this association requires further investigation.