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Decoding Collimonas pratensis PMB3(1) responses during biotite interaction and dissolution: a multi-omics and
Laura Picard1,2, Marie-Pierre Turpault2, Jean Armengaud3
1INRAE, IAM, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|September 19, 2025
Summary
Mineral weathering bacteria like Collimonas adapt their functions based on nutrient availability and the presence of minerals. They exhibit complex responses to biotite, going beyond simple nutrient-seeking behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry
- Soil science and geomicrobiology
- Molecular biology and systems biology
Background:
- Mineral weathering (MWe) bacteria mobilize soil nutrients via acidification and chelation.
- Collimonas bacteria are key MWe players in the rhizosphere, utilizing specific enzymes for acidification and iron mobilization.
- Regulation of MWe functions by nutrient and mineral availability in Collimonas remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of Collimonas pratensis PMB3(1) functions in response to varying iron, magnesium, and biotite presence.
- To characterize the direct and indirect MWe mechanisms employed by Collimonas.
- To understand the impact of mineral interfaces on bacterial metabolism and behavior.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomics and proteomics to analyze gene expression and protein abundance.
- Geochemical analyses to assess solution chemistry.
- In vitro experiments with varying nutrient and mineral conditions.
Main Results:
- Under nutrient depletion and without biotite, PMB3(1) upregulated genes/proteins for osmoprotection, stress response, and iron mobilization.
- In the presence of biotite, PMB3(1) upregulated genes/proteins related to surface sensing, motility, chemotaxis, transport, acidification, and iron storage.
- Biotite presence significantly altered the global metabolism and weathering effectiveness of Collimonas pratensis PMB3(1).
Conclusions:
- Collimonas bacteria exhibit complex regulatory responses to mineral presence, not just nutrient limitation.
- Minerals act as critical interfaces influencing bacterial behavior and metabolism.
- These findings advance our understanding of mineral-rock-microbe interactions in soil fertility and nutrient cycling.
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