Microbial diversification is maintained in an experimentally evolved synthetic community.

ABSTRACT: Microbial communities are incredibly diverse. Yet, the eco-evolutionary processes originating and maintaining this diversity remain understudied. Here, we investigate the patterns of diversification for Pseudomonas putida evolving in isolation and with Acinetobacter johnsonii leaking resources used by P. putida. We experimentally evolved four experimental replicates in monoculture and co-culture for 200 generations. We observed that P. putida diversified into two distinct morphotypes that differed from their ancestor by single-point mutations. One of the most prominent mutations hit the fleQ gene encoding the master regulator of flagella and biofilm formation. We experimentally confirmed that fleQ mutants were unable to swim and formed less biofilm

SUBMITTER: Al-Tameemi Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11575400 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature