Project description:Previously, we investigated the effect of fungal VOCs on the behavior of phylogenetically different soil bacteria (Schmidt et al 2015). In these experiments we showed that VOCs emitted by several fungi can lead to phenotypical responses in bacteria, for example, by inducing a change in motility (Schmidt et al 2015). We observed that the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium culmorum produced a unique cluster of VOCs consisting primarily of terpenes. When exposed to the VOCs emitted by this fungus, the rhizobacterium Serratia plymuthica PRI-2C responded with an induction of motility. It is plausible that in soil, microorganisms sense changes in their environments via shifts in VOCs blend and adapt their behavior accordingly (Garbeva et al 2014). Although several studies indicated that VOCs can be used as signaling molecules in microbial inter-species interactions, the following questions remain unanswered as how are VOCs perceived as signals by the microorganisms and which regulatory pathways and genes are involved in the response? To answer these questions, the rhizosphere isolate S. plymuthica PRI-2C was grown alone or exposed to VOCs emitted by F. culmorum. The bacterial transcriptome and proteome were analyzed under each situation to identify the molecular basis of the bacterial response to fungal VOCs.
Project description:Priestia endophytica FH5, which was isolated from healthy tomato rhizosphere soil, had biological activity against a variety of plant diseases, including R. solani. We isolated the chemicals generated by strain FH5 to better understand the interaction between strain FH5 and R. solani. A transcriptome study of strain FH5 with and without R. solani exposure was also performed. In response to the fungal pathogen R. solani, strain FH5 changed genes linked to amino acid transport, carbohydrate transport, energy generation and conversion, and inorganic ion transport and metabolism, according to our findings.
Project description:Decomposition of lignin-rich wood by fungi drives nutrient recycling in woodland ecosystems. Fluctuating abiotic conditions are known to promote the functioning of ecological communities and ecosystems. In the context of wood decay, fluctuating temperature increases decomposition rates. Metabolomics, in tandem with other ‘omics tools, can highlight the metabolic processes affected by experimental treatments, even in the absence of genome sequences and annotations. Globally, natural wood decay communities are dominated by the phylum Basidiomycota. We examined the metabolic responses of Mucidula mucida, a dominant constituent of pioneer communities in beech branches in British woodlands, and Exidia glandulosa, a stress-selected constituent of the same communities, in response to constant and diurnally cycling temperature. We applied untargeted metabolomics and proteomics to beech wood blocks, colonised by M. mucida or E. glandulosa and exposed to either diurnally cycling (mean 15 ± 10°C) or constant (15°C) temperature, in a fully factorial design. Metabolites and proteins linked to lignin breakdown, the citric acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and protein biosynthesis and turnover were under-enriched in fluctuating, compared to stable temperatures, in the generalist M. mucida. Conversely E. glandulosa showed little differential response to the experimental treatments. By demonstrating temperature dependant metabolic signatures related to nutrient acquisition in a generalist wood decay fungus, we provide new insights into how abiotic conditions can affect community-mediated decomposition and carbon turnover in forests. We show that mechanisms underpinning important biogeochemical processes can be highlighted using untargeted metabolomics and proteomics in the absence of well-annotated genomes.
Project description:1. Decomposition of lignin-rich wood by fungi drives nutrient recycling in woodland ecosystems. Fluctuating abiotic conditions are known to promote the functioning of ecological communities and ecosystems. In the context of wood decay, fluctuating temperature increases decomposition rates. Metabolomics, in tandem with other ‘omics tools, can highlight the metabolic processes affected by experimental treatments, even in the absence of genome sequences and annotations. Globally, natural wood decay communities are dominated by the phylum Basidiomycota. We examined the metabolic responses of Mucidula mucida, a dominant constituent of pioneer communities in beech branches in British woodlands, and Exidia glandulosa, a stress-selected constituent of the same communities, in response to constant and diurnally cycling temperature. 2. We applied untargeted metabolomics and proteomics to beech wood blocks, colonised by M. mucida or E. glandulosa and exposed to either diurnally cycling (mean 15 ± 10°C) or constant (15°C) temperature, in a fully factorial design. 3. Metabolites and proteins linked to lignin breakdown, the citric acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and protein biosynthesis and turnover were under-enriched in fluctuating, compared to stable temperatures, in the generalist M. mucida. Conversely E. glandulosa showed little differential response to the experimental treatments. 4. Synthesis. By demonstrating temperature dependant metabolic signatures related to nutrient acquisition in a generalist wood decay fungus, we provide new insights into how abiotic conditions can affect community-mediated decomposition and carbon turnover in forests. We show that mechanisms underpinning important biogeochemical processes can be highlighted using untargeted metabolomics and proteomics in the absence of well-annotated genomes.