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Transcriptome analysis of LfeRT32a in its natural microbial community comparing the biofilm and planktonic modes of life

ABSTRACT: Full title: Environmental transcriptome analysis of LfeRT32a in its natural microbial community comparing the biofilm and planktonic modes of life. Extreme acidic environments are characterized among other features by the high metal content and the lack of nutrients (oligotrophy). Macroscopic biofilms and filaments usually grow on the water-air interface or under the stream attached to solid substrates (streamers). In the Tinto River (Spain), brown filaments develop under the water stream where the Gram-negative iron-oxidizing bacteria Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans are abundant. Both microorganisms play a critical role in bioleaching processes for industrial (biominery) and environmental applications (acid mine drainage, bioremediation). The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological differences between the free living (planktonic) and the sessile (biofilm associated) lifestyles of L. ferrooxidans as part of a natural extremely acidophilic community.

ORGANISM(S): Leptospirillum ferrooxidans

PROVIDER: GSE20267 | GEO | 2016/06/23

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA326909

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Multispecies biofilms are the predominant form of bacterial growth in natural and human-associated environments. Although the pathways involved in monospecies biofilm have been well characterized, less is known about the metabolic pathways and emergent traits of a multispecies biofilm community. Here, we performed a transcriptome survey of the developmental stages of a 3-species biofilm community and combined it with quantitative imaging and growth experiments. We report the remodelling of central metabolism of two of the three species in this community. Specifically, we observed an increase in the expression of genes associated with glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways in K. pneumoniae. Similarly, a decrease in the expression of the same pathways in P. protegens was observed along with an increase in expression of glyoxalate cycle genes when grown as a mixed species biofilm, suggesting reorganisation of metabolic pathways and metabolite sharing for the community biofilms. To test the possibility of cross-feeding for the community, planktonic growth experiments revealed that both the Pseudomonads grew well in TCA cycle intermediates, while K. pneumoniae grew poorly when given those carbon sources. Despite this poor growth in mono-culture, K. pneumoniae was still the dominant species in mixed species biofilms cultivated in TCA intermediates as the sole source of carbon. The biofilm growth data, combined with the transcriptomics data, suggests there is reorganisation of metabolism for the community members and may allow for cross-feeding that allows K. pneumoniae to dominate the community. We also demonstrated that sdsA1 of P. aeruginosa was induced upon exposure to the surfactant SDS and that this gene was essential in protecting mono and mixed species biofilms from surfactant stress. This also suggests that the community members can share defence mechanisms. Overall, this study describes a comprehensive transcriptomics level investigation of shared resources, metabolites and stress defence that may underpin the emergent properties of mixed species biofilm communities.

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Transcriptome analysis of LfeRT32a in its natural microbial community comparing the biofilm and planktonic modes of life

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