Synthetic Soil Aggregates: Bioprinted Habitats for High-Throughput Microbial Metaphenomics.

ABSTRACT: The dynamics of microbial processes are difficult to study in natural soil, owing to the small spatial scales on which microorganisms operate and to the opacity and chemical complexity of the soil habitat. To circumvent these challenges, we have created a 3D-bioprinted habitat that mimics aspects of natural soil aggregates while providing a chemically defined and translucent alternative culturing method for soil microorganisms. Our Synthetic Soil Aggregates (SSAs) retain the porosity, permeability, and patchy resource distribution of natural soil aggregates-parameters that are expected to influence emergent microbial community interactions. We demonstrate the printability and viability of several different microorganisms within SSAs and show how the SSAs can be integrated into a multi-omic

SUBMITTER: Smercina D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9146112 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature