Mutualism breakdown underpins evolutionary rescue in an obligate cross-feeding bacterial consortium.

ABSTRACT: Populations facing lethal environmental change can escape extinction through rapid genetic adaptation, a process known as evolutionary rescue. Despite extensive study, evolutionary rescue is largely unexplored in mutualistic communities, where it is likely constrained by the less adaptable partner. Here, we explored empirically the likelihood, population dynamics, and genetic mechanisms underpinning evolutionary rescue in an obligate mutualism involving cross-feeding of amino acids between auxotrophic Escherichia coli strains. We found that over 80% of populations overcame a severe decline when exposed to two distinct types of abrupt, lethal stress. Of note, in all cases only one of the strains survived by metabolically bypassing the auxotrophy. Crucially, the mutualistic consortium exhibi

SUBMITTER: Melero-Jimenez IJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11992082 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature