A novel research method has been devised by the University of Basel’s scientists, offering a unique insight into bacterial colonies. This method uncovers the cooperative behavior and resource-sharing among bacteria across different generations. The research, using the bacterium Bacillus subtilis as a model, emphasizes the communal advantages for bacteria, including the intricate dynamics present within these groups.
This study marks the first successful demonstration of generational cooperation and nutrient sharing among bacteria, achieved through an innovative technique. This method allows for tracking gene activity and the progression of bacterial communities in both spatial and temporal dimensions.
Bacteria naturally form groups in various environments, including human gut microbiomes and biofilms like dental plaque. Living in groups provides bacteria with several benefits, such as better survival against environmental challenges, access to new areas, and shared resources that offer mutual benefits.
Bacterial Societies
The formation of bacterial societies involves complex processes, leading to the creation of detailed three-dimensional structures. Professor Knut Drescher’s team from the University of Basel’s Biozentrum investigated the development of bacterial swarm communities. Their study, published in Nature Microbiology on November 16, introduces a groundbreaking methodology that simultaneously tracks gene expression and observes individual cell behaviors in microbial groups.
A swarm of Bacillus subtilis bacteria on an agar plate. (Colorized image). Image courtesy of the University of Basel, Biozentrum.
Cross-Generational Sharing of Resources
Professor Knut Drescher, who led the study, explains, “We chose Bacillus subtilis, a common bacterium in our gut flora, to study intergenerational cooperation in bacterial communities. We found that previous generations provide metabolites for subsequent ones.”
The study also discovered distinct subgroups within the bacterial swarm that produce and utilize various metabolites, with some acting as food sources for other subgroups that emerge later in the swarm’s development.
Role Allocation in Bacterial Colonies
The research team employed a blend of adaptive microscopy, gene and metabolite analysis, and robotic sampling. This innovative approach allowed for the simultaneous study of gene activity and bacterial behavior in specific locations and times, and the identification of metabolites produced by the bacteria. The bacterial swarm was categorized into three main areas: the leading edge, the intermediate zone, and the swarm’s center, each showing a gradual transition.
Hannah Jeckel, the study’s first author, states, “Bacteria differ in appearance, traits, and behavior based on their location within the swarm. The edges contain mostly motile bacteria, while the center houses longer, non-motile bacteria forming a 3D biofilm. This distribution is influenced by varying space and resource availability.” She adds that this spatial arrangement allows the community to expand and simultaneously form a protective biofilm, a survival strategy prevalent in bacterial communities.
Complexity and Survival Tactics in Bacterial Groups
The study highlights the intricate and dynamic nature of bacterial communities, showcasing the cooperative interactions among individual bacteria for communal benefit. The spatial and temporal aspects are vital in the formation and sustainability of microbial groups. A significant achievement of this research is the development of a groundbreaking technique, enabling the acquisition of detailed spatiotemporal data of a multicellular process at an unprecedented resolution.
Reference: “Simultaneous spatiotemporal transcriptomics and microscopy of Bacillus subtilis swarm development reveal cooperation across generations” by Hannah Jeckel, Kazuki Nosho, Konstantin Neuhaus, Alasdair D. Hastewell, Dominic J. Skinner, Dibya Saha, Niklas Netter, Nicole Paczia, Jörn Dunkel, and Knut Drescher, 16 November 2023, Nature Microbiology.
DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01518-4
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bacterial Cooperation
What groundbreaking method did the University of Basel researchers develop?
The researchers at the University of Basel developed a novel method that allows for the tracking of gene expression and the observation of bacterial behavior in microbial communities, both spatially and temporally.
How do bacteria in communities cooperate and share resources?
In bacterial communities, bacteria cooperate by sharing nutrients and resources across generations. This communal living enhances their resilience and allows for efficient utilization and distribution of resources within the community.
What are the benefits of communal living for bacteria?
Communal living provides bacteria with several advantages, such as increased resilience against harsh environmental conditions, the ability to expand into new territories, and mutual benefits from shared resources.
Which bacterium was used as a model in this study?
The study used Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium commonly found in the human gut flora, as a model organism to investigate intergenerational cooperation in bacterial communities.
What are the main findings of the University of Basel’s study on bacterial communities?
The study revealed that bacteria within communities, like Bacillus subtilis, cooperate and interact with each other across generations, with older generations providing metabolites for newer ones. It also uncovered the presence of distinct subpopulations within a bacterial swarm, each with different metabolic roles.
More about Bacterial Cooperation
- University of Basel Research on Bacterial Communities
- Nature Microbiology Journal Publication
- Overview of Bacillus subtilis
- Study on Microbial Communities’ Cooperation
- Hannah Jeckel’s Research on Bacteria
- Innovative Gene Expression Research Techniques
6 comments
gotta say, the university of basel always comes up with some groundbreaking stuff, kudos to them
this article reminds me how complex and incredible nature is, always something new to learn
wow this is so cool bacteria working together, kind of like a tiny city right?
great to see such innovative research, can’t wait to see what they discover next, keep up the good work!
its fascinating to think about how even bacteria form communities, makes you wonder what else we dont know about the microbial world
I read about Bacillus subtilis in my microbiology class, but this takes it to a whole new level, amazing how these tiny organisms cooperate