Bacillus subtilis attachment to Aspergillus niger hyphae results in mutually altered metabolism

Isabelle Benoit*, Marielle H. van den Esker, Aleksandrina Patyshakuliyeva, Derek J. Mattern, Felix Blei, Miaomiao Zhou, Jan Dijksterhuis, Axel A. Brakhage, Oscar P. Kuipers, Ronald P. de Vries, Ákos T. Kovács

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Interaction between microbes affects the growth, metabolism and differentiation of members of the microbial community. While direct and indirect competition, like antagonism and nutrient consumption have a negative effect on the interacting members of the population, microbes have also evolved in nature not only to fight, but in some cases to adapt to or support each other, while increasing the fitness of the community. The presence of bacteria and fungi in soil results in various interactions including mutualism. Bacilli attach to the plant root and form complex communities in the rhizosphere. Bacillus subtilis, when grown in the presence of Aspergillus niger, interacts similarly with the fungus, by attaching and growing on the hyphae. Based on data obtained in a dual transcriptome experiment, we suggest that both fungi and bacteria alter their metabolism during this interaction. Interestingly, the transcription of genes related to the antifungal and putative antibacterial defence mechanism of B.subtilis and A.niger, respectively, are decreased upon attachment of bacteria to the mycelia. Analysis of the culture supernatant suggests that surfactin production by B.subtilis was reduced when the bacterium was co-cultivated with the fungus. Our experiments provide new insights into the interaction between a bacterium and a fungus.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEnvironmental Microbiology
Volume17
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)2099-2113
ISSN1462-2912
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Bacillus subtilis attachment to Aspergillus niger hyphae results in mutually altered metabolism'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this