Understanding the Chemical Dialogues of Microbial Communities

Understanding the Chemical Dialogues of Microbial Communities
Microbial communities are often structured by a complex network of chemical interactions, and bacteria within these communities are an integral part of these networks. However, most of what we know about these interactions comes from simplified, laboratory-based culturing systems. In this project, we aim to understand how secondary metabolites mediate microbial interactions and shape the community structure. We are also particularly interested in how these interactions change when shifting from conventional laboratory culturing conditions to nature-like microcosms.
A key part of the project is viewing secondary metabolites not just as detrimental factors, but also as key mediators that help us interpret the underlying microbial dynamics. To achieve this, we will combine conventional microscopy techniques, such as confocal imaging, with metabolite-based imaging techniques, including MALDI imaging. Further, high-resolution analytics (LC-MS) will be used to quantify the secondary metabolites involved, thereby linking the distribution of secondary metabolites to the spatiotemporal arrangement of interacting bacteria.
By integrating these complementary approaches, we aim to build a more comprehensive understanding of how bacteria interact in complex environments such as the rhizosphere. Taken together, these insights can be applied in agribiotechnology for improving farming outcomes using beneficial microbial communities.