The functional repertoire contained within the native microbiota of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: The microbiota is generally assumed to have a substantial influence on the biology of multicellular organisms. The exact functional contributions of the microbes are often unclear and cannot be inferred easily from 16S rRNA genotyping, which is commonly used for taxonomic characterization of bacterial associates. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, we here analyzed the metabolic competences of the native microbiota of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We integrated whole-genome sequences of 77 bacterial microbiota members with metabolic modeling and experimental characterization of bacterial physiology. We found that, as a community, the microbiota can synthesize all essential nutrients for C. elegans. Both metabolic models and experimental analyses revealed that nutrient conte

SUBMITTER: Zimmermann J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6908608 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature