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Importance of positioning for microbial evolution.

Wook Kim1, Fernando Racimo, Jonas Schluter

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom.

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|April 10, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Spontaneous mutants in bacterial colonies repeatedly emerge and move to the surface to access resources. This spatial positioning, driven by secretions, highlights strong natural selection in dense microbial communities.

Keywords:
bacteriabiofilmexperimental evolutionsocial interaction

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Microbes form dense communities where spatial positioning impacts resource access.
  • Theory predicts strong natural selection on microbial phenotypes due to spatial effects.
  • Empirical evidence for spatial structuring's role in selection is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically test the importance of spatial structuring in microbial communities.
  • To investigate the mechanisms and genetic basis of adaptation in bacterial colonies.
  • To link microbial positioning to evolutionary fitness.

Main Methods:

  • Microscopy and mathematical modeling to observe and analyze bacterial colony growth.
  • Tracking over 500 independent adaptation events in Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1.
  • Molecular analysis to map the genetic basis of adaptation, focusing on RsmE.

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous mutants repeatedly arise, utilizing secretions to reach the colony surface for better oxygen access.
  • Physical mixing or space limitation reduces the advantage of surface-seeking mutants.
  • All adaptations involved mutations in the RsmE gene, with varying competitiveness among mutants.
  • Evolutionary competitiveness correlates with specific mutation effects.

Conclusions:

  • Spatial structuring in dense microbial communities drives strong natural selection.
  • Microbial positioning and access to resources are key determinants of fitness.
  • Adaptation in Pseudomonas fluorescens is genetically mapped to RsmE mutations, influencing secretion and competitiveness.