Dataset Information

Impacts of a novel defensive symbiosis on the nematode host microbiome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bacteria adapted to live within animals can protect their hosts against harmful infections. Beyond antagonism with pathogens, a 'defensive' bacterial symbiont could engage in additional interactions with other colonizing micro-organisms. A single bacterium might thus have cascading ecological impacts on the whole microbiome that are rarely investigated. Here, we assess the role of a defensive symbiont as a driver of host-associated microbiota composition by using a bacterial species (Enterococcus faecalis) that was previously experimentally adapted to a nematode host model (Caenorhabditis elegans).

Results

An analysis of 16S rRNA data from C. elegans exposed to E. faecalis and subsequently reared in soil, reveal that symbiont adaptation to host environment or its protective potential had minimal impact on microbiota diversity. Whilst the abundance of Pseudomonas was higher in the microbiota of hosts with protective E.faecalis (and another protective species tested), a few other genera - including Serratia and Salinispora - were less abundant in hosts colonized by all E. faecalis strains. In addition, the protective effect of E. faecalis against virulent Staphylococcus aureus pathogens was maintained despite multi-species interactions within the microbiota.

Conclusions

Our results reveal the degree to which a new, evolving symbiont can colonise and maintain pathogen-resistance with minimal disruption to host microbiota diversity.

SUBMITTER: Dahan D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7296725 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Impacts of a novel defensive symbiosis on the nematode host microbiome.

Dahan Dylan D Preston Gail M GM Sealey Jordan J King Kayla C KC

BMC microbiology 20200615 1

<h4>Background</h4>Bacteria adapted to live within animals can protect their hosts against harmful infections. Beyond antagonism with pathogens, a 'defensive' bacterial symbiont could engage in additional interactions with other colonizing micro-organisms. A single bacterium might thus have cascading ecological impacts on the whole microbiome that are rarely investigated. Here, we assess the role of a defensive symbiont as a driver of host-associated microbiota composition by using a bacterial s ...[more]

PMID: 32539750

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Dataset Information

Impacts of a novel defensive symbiosis on the nematode host microbiome.

Background

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Impacts of a novel defensive symbiosis on the nematode host microbiome.

Similar Datasets

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