Name: Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Microbial Communities for Generating Second-Generation Biofertilizers
Uploaded: 2024-05-24T15:00:00
Description: The multispecies biofilm is a naturally occurring and dominant lifestyle of bacteria in nature, including in rhizosphere soil, although the current ...

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42307173 and 42107328) and the National Key Research and Development Program (2022YFD1500202 and 2022YFF1001800). P.W, Z.X designed the study. P.W, B.X, Z.C, J.X, and N.Z analyzed the data and created the figures. P.W wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Z.X., R.Z., and Q.S. revised the manuscript.

This protocol is generally applicable to rhizosphere soil microbiota from various plants. Here, cucumber is used as an example. Details of the reagents and equipment used for the study are listed in the Table of Materials.
1. Bacterial isolation
<ol>
	<li>Rhizosphere soil isolation
	<ol>
		<li>Cucumber culture
		<ol>
			<li>Disinfect cucumber seeds with 75% ethanol and 2% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution, then rinse them in sterile water<sup class="xref"...

Developing Synergistic Multispecies Biofilms from Rhizosphere Soil

<ol>
	<li>Davey, M. E., O'Toole, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microbial+biofilms:+from+ecology+to+molecular+genetics.">Microbial biofilms: from ecology to molecular genetics.</a> Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 64 (4), 847-867 (2000).</li><li>Campbell, R., Greaves, M. P., Lynch, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anatomy+and+community+structure+of+the+rhizosphere.">Anatomy and community structure of the rhizosphere.</a> Rhizosphere. , 11-34 (1990).</li><li>Berendsen, R. L., Pieterse, C. M., Bakker, P. 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D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plant-growth-promoting+rhizobacteria.">Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria.</a> Annu Rev Microbiol. 63, 541-556 (2009).</li><li>Compant, S., Cl&#233;ment, C., Sessitsch, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plant+growth-promoting+bacteria+in+the+rhizo-+and+endosphere+of+plants:+Their+role,+colonization,+mechanisms+involved+and+prospects+for+utilization.">Plant growth-promoting bacteria in the rhizo- and endosphere of plants: Their role, colonization, mechanisms involved and prospects for utilization.</a> Soil Biol Biochem. 42, 669-678 (2010).</li><li>Bais, H. P., Fall, R. R., Vivanco, J. 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K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plant-microbiome+interactions:+From+community+assembly+to+plant+health.">Plant-microbiome interactions: From community assembly to plant health.</a> Nat Rev Microbiol. 18, 607-621 (2020).</li><li>Sun, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacillus+velezensis+stimulates+resident+rhizosphere+Pseudomonas+stutzeri+for+plant+health+through+metabolic+interactions.">Bacillus velezensis stimulates resident rhizosphere Pseudomonas stutzeri for plant health through metabolic interactions.</a> ISME J. 16, 774-787 (2021).</li><li>Pandhal, J., Noirel, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthetic+microbial+ecosystems+for+biotechnology.">Synthetic microbial ecosystems for biotechnology.</a> Biotechnol Lett. 36, 1141-1151 (2014).</li><li>Grosskopf, T., Soyer, O. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthetic+microbial+communities.">Synthetic microbial communities.</a> Curr Opin Microbiol. 18, 72-77 (2014).</li><li>Lundberg, D. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Defining+the+core+Arabidopsis+thaliana.+root+microbiome.">Defining the core Arabidopsis thaliana. root microbiome.</a> Nature. 488, 86-90 (2012).</li><li>Bai, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+overlap+of+the+Arabidopsis+leaf+and+root+microbiota.">Functional overlap of the Arabidopsis leaf and root microbiota.</a> Nature. 528, 364-369 (2015).</li><li>Bakken, L. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Separation+and+purification+of+bacteria+from+soil.">Separation and purification of bacteria from soil.</a> Appl Environ Microbiol. 49 (6), 1482-1487 (1985).</li><li>Yang, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Direct+cell+extraction+from+fresh+and+stored+soil+samples:+Impact+on+microbial+viability+and+community+compositions.">Direct cell extraction from fresh and stored soil samples: Impact on microbial viability and community compositions.</a> Soil Biol Biochem. 155, 108178 (2021).</li><li>Ren, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+screening+of+multispecies+biofilm+formation+and+quantitative+PCR-based+assessment+of+individual+species+proportions,+useful+for+exploring+interspecific+bacterial+interactions.">High-throughput screening of multispecies biofilm formation and quantitative PCR-based assessment of individual species proportions, useful for exploring interspecific bacterial interactions.</a> Microb Ecol. 68, 146-154 (2013).</li><li>Sun, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metabolic+interactions+affect+the+biomass+of+synthetic+bacterial+biofilm+communities.">Metabolic interactions affect the biomass of synthetic bacterial biofilm communities.</a> mSystems. 8, e01045-e01123 (2023).</li><li>Zhang, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+cultivation+and+identification+of+bacteria+from+the+plant+root+microbiota.">High-throughput cultivation and identification of bacteria from the plant root microbiota.</a> Nat Protoc. 16, 988-1012 (2021).</li><li>Ren, D., Madsen, J. S., S&#248;rensen, S. J., Burnolle, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+prevalence+of+biofilm+synergy+among+bacterial+soil+isolates+in+cocultures+indicates+bacterial+interspecific+cooperation.">High prevalence of biofilm synergy among bacterial soil isolates in cocultures indicates bacterial interspecific cooperation.</a> ISME J. 9, 81-89 (2015).</li><li>Liu, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Root+colonization+by+beneficial+rhizobacteria.">Root colonization by beneficial rhizobacteria.</a> FEMS Microbiol Rev. 48 (1), 066 (2024).</li><li>Palkov&#225;, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multicellular+microorganisms:+Laboratory+versus+nature.">Multicellular microorganisms: Laboratory versus nature.</a> EMBO Rep. 5, 470-476 (2004).</li><li>Xu, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemical+communication+in+plant-microbe+beneficial+interactions:+a+toolbox+for+precise+management+of+beneficial+microbes.">Chemical communication in plant-microbe beneficial interactions: a toolbox for precise management of beneficial microbes.</a> Curr Opin Microbiol. 72, 102269 (2023).</li></ol>

Following the protocol, a series of robust synthetic multispecies biofilm communities are constructed based on the microbiota in rhizosphere soil from different plants. Using quantitative PCR techniques, the composition of each community is deciphered clearly. The biomass of the biofilm indicates the strength of their potential metabolic interactions, although various properties and mechanisms behind the cooperation could not be revealed here19. Given the size and complexity of natural microbial c...

Biofilms represent intricate microbial communities either affixed to surfaces or linked with interfaces. There is broad acknowledgment that the majority of bacteria encountered in various environments, such as natural habitats, clinical settings, and industrial contexts, endure within biofilm communities1. In soil, the rhizosphere&#8212;encompassing the root surface and its adjacent 2 mm thick region&#8212;forms an ecological niche with heightened nutrient availability. Specific bacteria have evolved strategies to exploit this niche, fostering microbial proliferation and fostering the formation of biofilm communities in the rhizosphere2.
Rhizosphere microbes are considered the &#39;second genome&#39; of plants3. Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) engage in mutualistic symbiosis with plants, providing significant growth promotion and biocontrol functions4. On the one hand, PGPM can supply nutrients to plant roots, enhance nutrient uptake, defend against pathogens, and degrade pollutants in the rhizosphere soil5. On the other hand, PGPM utilizes plant root exudates as a nutrient source for growth and evolution, thereby influencing the rhizosphere soil and root system through their own metabolism. It is worth noting that the prerequisite for all these functions is the effective colonization of PGPM in the plant rhizosphere, forming stable biofilms6.
Rhizosphere biofilm affects the assembly process of rhizosphere microbes, and the temporal and spatial characteristics of rhizosphere microbe assembly are closely related to the interaction of multispecies biofilm7. It serves as the hub of plant-microbiome interactions, providing a stable and controllable niche for them&#160;to interact effectively. Therefore, studying rhizosphere biofilm is also an important direction to gain insight into the interaction between plants and microbes.
However, there is currently little research on rhizosphere multispecies biofilms. The high complexity of microbiome composition makes it challenging to answer fundamental ecological questions surrounding natural microbial communities8. In the process of experiments, many conditions, such as soil type, plant type, and the large number of microbial communities, need to be considered. Various factors limit the research of rhizosphere multispecies biofilms.
To further investigate multispecies biofilm communities from rhizosphere soil, such as interspecies synergistic interactions or metabolite cross-feeding8, it is desirable to artificially construct a simplified, representative, stable, and tractable synthetic microbial community under laboratory conditions9,10. Here, a standardized protocol combines several of the latest microbiological and bioinformatic techniques.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>0.2 % Na4P2O7 solution</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>20041418</td>
			<td>Used to dilute the soil suspension.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 &#956;m Nylon Cell Filter</td>
			<td>Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>F613463-0001</td>
			<td>Used to filter culture solution and separate pellicle biofilm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2% NaClO solution</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>L03336903</td>
			<td>Used to sterilize the seeds.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24-well Plate</td>
			<td>Merck &#38; Co., Inc.</td>
			<td>PSRP010</td>
			<td>Used for micobial cultivation and pellicle biofilm separation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3-(N-morpholino) propane sulfonic acid (MOPS)</td>
			<td>Bioolook Scientific Research Special</td>
			<td>2360010</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL Centrifuge Tube</td>
			<td>Beijing Su-bio Biotech Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>62.547.254</td>
			<td>Properly-sized centrifuge tubes for our protocol.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>75% C2H5OH solution</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>801769680</td>
			<td>Used to sterilize the seeds.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acinetobacter baumannii XL-1</td>
			<td>Nanjing Agricultural University</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Strains isolated from rhizosphere soil.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bacillus velezensis SQR9</td>
			<td>Nanjing Agricultural University</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Strains isolated from rhizosphere soil.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bacteria DNA Kit</td>
			<td>Nanjing Dinsi Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>D3350020000K04U021</td>
			<td>Used to extract bacterial DNA.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Black Soil I</td>
			<td>Nanjing Agricultural University</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Black soil from Jilin Province.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Black Soil II</td>
			<td>Nanjing Agricultural University</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Black soil from Heilongjiang Province.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Burkholderia cenocepacia XL-2</td>
			<td>Nanjing Agricultural University</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Strains isolated from rhizosphere soil.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2</td>
			<td>Xilong Scientific Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>10035048</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>G508009-0001</td>
			<td>High-speed centrifuge.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ChamQ SYBR qPCR Master Mix</td>
			<td>Vazyme Biotech Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>Q311-02</td>
			<td>Used for DNA amplification in qPCR.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clean Bench</td>
			<td>Suzhou Antai Airtech Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>NB026143</td>
			<td>Used for aseptic operation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Constant Temperature Incubator</td>
			<td>ShangHai CIMO Medical Instrument Co.,Ltd</td>
			<td>GNP-9080BS-<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/66926/66926eq01.jpg" style="margin: auto;" /></td>
			<td>Used for microbial cultivation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cristal Violet Dye</td>
			<td>Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>A600331</td>
			<td>Used for pellicle biofilm staining and quantifivation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cucumber Seed</td>
			<td>Nanjing Agricultural University</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>&#34;Jinchun I&#34; cucumber seed.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culturome v 1.0</td>
			<td>The Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for high-throughput rhizosphere soil bacterial cultivation and identification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FeCl3</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd</td>
			<td>10011918</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fridge</td>
			<td>Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>BCD-556WKPM(Q)</td>
			<td>Used for strain preservation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glutamate</td>
			<td>Bioolook Scientific Research Special</td>
			<td>2180020</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd</td>
			<td>10010618</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydroponic Planting Basket</td>
			<td>Yulv Furniture Store</td>
			<td>6526262626</td>
			<td>Used for cucumber hydroponics.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KH2PO4</td>
			<td>Xilong Scientific Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>10017618</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgCl2</td>
			<td>Xilong Scientific Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>7791186</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MnCl2</td>
			<td>Xilong Scientific Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>10400101</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Msgg Medium</td>
			<td>Shanghai Bioesn Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>BES20791KB</td>
			<td>Pellicle biofilm culture medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na2HPO4&#183;7H2O</td>
			<td>Merck &#38; Co., Inc.</td>
			<td>S9390-100G</td>
			<td>Used to prepare TSB media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCI</td>
			<td>Chinasun Specialty Products co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>HS0416</td>
			<td>Used to prepare TSB media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaH2PO4&#183;H2O</td>
			<td>Merck &#38; Co., Inc.</td>
			<td>S9638-25G</td>
			<td>Used to prepare TSB media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS-S Buffer</td>
			<td>Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>E607008-0001</td>
			<td>Basic buffer for living tissues.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenylalanine</td>
			<td>RYON</td>
			<td>RT3486L005</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipette</td>
			<td>Beijing Labgic Technology Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>BS-1000-T</td>
			<td>Used for strain inoculation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PMD19T Plasmid</td>
			<td>Takara Biomedical Technology (Beijing) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>D102A</td>
			<td>Used to generate qPCR standard curves.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pot</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>YHHWS2401</td>
			<td>Used for cucumber soil culture.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Primer for qPCR</td>
			<td>Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for DNA amplification in qPCR.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Real-Time PCR Instrument</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>4484073</td>
			<td>Used to perform qPCR on selected pellicle biofilm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Roary</td>
			<td>The Wellcome Trust SangerInstitute</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used to design primers of qPCR</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shaker</td>
			<td>Shanghai Zhichu Instrument Co.,Ltd</td>
			<td>ZQTY-50S</td>
			<td>Used for solution mixing and microbial cultivation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silwet L-77</td>
			<td>Cytiva Bio-technology(Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>SL77080596</td>
			<td>Used to prepare TSB media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Soy peptone</td>
			<td>Qingdao Hi-tech Industrial Park Hope Bio-technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>HB8275</td>
			<td>Used to prepare TSB media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Shanghai Yidian Analysis Instrument Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>76713100010</td>
			<td>Used for pellicle biofilm cristal violet quantifivation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile Water</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>SW150302</td>
			<td>Used to wash the pellicle biofilm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterilized Nitrile Gloves</td>
			<td>Beijing Labgic Technology Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>223016852LLZA</td>
			<td>Used for basic experimental operations.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Template DNA</td>
			<td>Sangon Biotech (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for DNA amplification in qPCR.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thiamine</td>
			<td>Bioolook Scientific Research Special</td>
			<td>2180020</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptone</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>LP0042B</td>
			<td>Used to prepare TSB media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptophan</td>
			<td>Bioolook Scientific Research Special</td>
			<td>2190020</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TSB Medium</td>
			<td>Guangdong Huankai Microbial Sci. &#38; Tech. Co.,Ltd.</td>
			<td>024048</td>
			<td>Broad-spectrum bacterial medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TSB-Msgg Meidium</td>
			<td>Nanjing Agricultural University</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Mixed medium for pellicle biofilm culture with wider applicability.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ZnCl2</td>
			<td>Nanjing Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd</td>
			<td>C0310520123</td>
			<td>Used to prepare MSgg media.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an approach to constructing multispecies biofilm communities from rhizosphere soil

The multispecies biofilm is a naturally occurring and dominant lifestyle of bacteria in nature, including in rhizosphere soil, although the current understanding of it is limited. Here, we provide an approach to rapidly establish synergistic multispecies biofilm communities. The first step is to extract cells from rhizosphere soil using the differential centrifugation method. Afterward, these soil cells are inoculated into the culture medium to form pellicle biofilm. After 36 h of incubation, the bacterial composition of the biofilm and the solution underneath are determined using the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing method. Meanwhile, high-throughput bacterial isolation from pellicle biofilm is conducted using the limiting dilution method. Then, the top 5 bacterial taxa are selected with the highest abundance in the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data (pellicle biofilm samples) for further use in constructing multispecies biofilm communities. All combinations of the 5 bacterial taxa were quickly established using a 24-well plate, selected for the strongest biofilm formation ability by the crystal violet staining assay, and quantified by qPCR. Finally, the most robust synthetic bacterial multispecies biofilm communities were obtained through the methods above. This methodology provides informative guidance for conducting research on rhizosphere multispecies biofilm and identifying representative communities for studying the principles governing interactions among these species.

Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Microbial Communities for Generating Second-Generation Biofertilizers

An Approach to Constructing Multispecies Biofilm Communities from Rhizosphere Soil

In our research, we focus on rhizosphere bacteria and biofertilizers, and we aim to develop a synthetic bacterial communities that will be used as second-generation biofertilizers. The focus of our research on rhizosphere bacteria has shift from single-strain to community-level. However, there is no standard methods for building synthetic bacterial communities.Currently, there is still uncertainty regarding the compatibility and colonization ability of synthetic bacterial communities predicted by microbiome analysis. Thus, it is also a major bottleneck in the development of second-generation biofertilizers. Compared to large sequencing data of conventional methods, our culture first, identify later approach greatly reduces the amount of work involved in 60S rRNA gene sequencing.It is cost-effective to create synthetic bacterial communities that colonize roots quickly and efficiently. Our future research will focus on biological function of bacterial communities based on multispecies biofilms, and we will pay particular attention to promoting plant growth, improve plant stress resistance, and protecting plant health.

Following the mentioned procedure, significant gradients in biofilm-forming capacity from cucumber rhizosphere soil microbiota are observed (Figure 1). Biofilm amplicon sequencing confirmed the species in the pellicle (Figure 2). Based on the heat mapping of sequencing data, the top five bacterial species whose abundance in the pellicle is larger than that in the remaining solution were selected (Figure 3). Here, a typical group of ...

A rapid and standardized procedure for establishing synergistic multispecies biofilm communities from various rhizosphere soils is presented here. It is a unique protocol designed to probe and simulate the complex rhizosphere soil microbiota.

The multispecies biofilm is a naturally occurring and dominant lifestyle of bacteria in nature, including in rhizosphere soil, although the current ...