Bacterial colonization of Hydra hatchlings follows a robust temporal pattern

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Developmental Biology
• Ecology

Background:

• Animal epithelia host complex bacterial communities.
• Processes governing microbial colonization and ecosystem development are poorly understood.
• Understanding microbial assembly is crucial for host health and ecological interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore bacterial community assembly in Hydra polyps.
• To elucidate general rules for microbial colonization of animal epithelia.
• To understand the temporal progression of microbial ecosystem development.

Main Methods:

• Profiling microbial communities in Hydra polyps at various time points post-hatching.
• Utilizing four replicates to ensure reproducibility.
• Employing mathematical modeling to uncover organizational principles of colonization.

Main Results:

• Striking similarity in bacterial community composition and temporal patterns across replicates.
• Observed a transient, adult-like microbial profile at 2 weeks post-hatching.
• Identified a stable adult-like pattern characterized by low diversity and dominance of Curvibacter.
• Noted parallels between Hydra and human fecal community assembly.

Conclusions:

• Hydra bacterial colonization follows predictable temporal patterns, transitioning from high to low diversity.
• Host-derived factors and bacterial interactions are key to establishing stable microbial communities.
• Findings offer generalizable insights into microbial colonization of animal epithelia.