Functional overlap of the Arabidopsis leaf and root microbiota.

Roots and leaves of healthy plants host taxonomically structured bacterial assemblies, and members of these communities contribute to plant growth and health. We established Arabidopsis leaf- and root-derived microbiota culture collections representing the majority of bacterial species that are reproducibly detectable by culture-independent community sequencing. We found an extensive taxonomic overlap between the leaf and root microbiota. Genome drafts of 400 isolates revealed a large overlap of genome-encoded functional capabilities between leaf- and root-derived bacteria with few significant differences at the level of individual functional categories. Using defined bacterial communities and a gnotobiotic Arabidopsis plant system we show that the isolates form assemblies resembling natural microbiota on their cognate host organs, but are also capable of ectopic leaf or root colonization. While this raises the possibility of reciprocal relocation between root and leaf microbiota members, genome information and recolonization experiments also provide evidence for microbiota specialization to their respective niche.

Engineering Escherichia coli for methanol conversion.

Methylotrophic bacteria utilize methanol and other reduced one-carbon compounds as their sole source of carbon and energy. For this purpose, these bacteria evolved a number of specialized enzymes and pathways. Here, we used a synthetic biology approach to select and introduce a set of "methylotrophy genes" into Escherichia coli based on in silico considerations and flux balance analysis to enable methanol dissimilation and assimilation. We determined that the most promising approach allowing the utilization of methanol was the implementation of NAD-dependent methanol dehydrogenase and the establishment of the ribulose monophosphate cycle by expressing the genes for hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (Hps) and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (Phi). To test for the best-performing enzymes in the heterologous host, a number of enzyme candidates from different donor organisms were selected and systematically analyzed for their in vitro and in vivo activities in E. coli. Among these, Mdh2, Hps and Phi originating from Bacillus methanolicus were found to be the most effective. Labeling experiments using (13)C methanol with E. coli producing these enzymes showed up to 40% incorporation of methanol into central metabolites. The presence of the endogenous glutathione-dependent formaldehyde oxidation pathway of E. coli did not adversely affect the methanol conversion rate. Taken together, the results of this study represent a major advancement towards establishing synthetic methylotrophs by gene transfer.

Toward a rational design of surface textures promoting endothelialization.

The safe integration of cardiovascular devices requires the sustainable coverage of their luminal surface by endothelial cells (ECs). The engineering of active surface textures has the potential to coordinate cellular adhesion and migration under the action of hemodynamic forces. We define a paradigm to rationally design textures maximizing EC activities as a function of the applied stresses. This is based on harnessing the adhesions established by ECs through fine-tuning of the vertical extend of the underlying surface nanotopography.

Spatial distribution analyses of natural phyllosphere-colonizing bacteria on Arabidopsis thaliana revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Bacterial colonizers of the aerial parts of plants, or phyllosphere, have been identified on a number of different plants using cultivation-dependent and independent methods. However, the spatial distribution at the micrometer scale of different main phylogenetic lineages is not well documented and mostly based on fluorescence-tagged model strains. In this study, we developed and applied a spatial explicit approach that allowed the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to study bacterial phylloplane communities of environmentally grown Arabidopsis thaliana. We found on average 5.4 × 10(6) bacteria cm(-2) leaf surface and 1.5 × 10(8) bacteria g(-1) fresh weight. Furthermore, we found that the total biomass in the phylloplane was normally distributed. About 31% of the bacteria found in the phylloplane did not hybridize to FISH probes but exhibited infrared autofluorescence indicative for aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs. Four sets of FISH probes targeting Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes were sufficient to identify all other major contributors of the phylloplane community based on general bacterial probing. Spatial aggregation patterns were observed for all probe-targeted populations at distances up to 7 µm, with stronger tendencies to co-aggregate for members of the same phylogenetic group. Our findings contribute to a bottom-up description of leaf surface community composition.

Cohesive Properties of the Caulobacter crescentus Holdfast Adhesin Are Regulated by a Novel c-di-GMP Effector Protein.

When encountering surfaces, many bacteria produce adhesins to facilitate their initial attachment and to irreversibly glue themselves to the solid substrate. A central molecule regulating the processes of this motile-sessile transition is the second messenger c-di-GMP, which stimulates the production of a variety of exopolysaccharide adhesins in different bacterial model organisms. In Caulobacter crescentus, c-di-GMP regulates the synthesis of the polar holdfast adhesin during the cell cycle, yet the molecular and cellular details of this control are currently unknown. Here we identify HfsK, a member of a versatile N-acetyltransferase family, as a novel c-di-GMP effector involved in holdfast biogenesis. Cells lacking HfsK form highly malleable holdfast structures with reduced adhesive strength that cannot support surface colonization. We present indirect evidence that HfsK modifies the polysaccharide component of holdfast to buttress its cohesive properties. HfsK is a soluble protein but associates with the cell membrane during most of the cell cycle. Coincident with peak c-di-GMP levels during the C. crescentus cell cycle, HfsK relocalizes to the cytosol in a c-di-GMP-dependent manner. Our results indicate that this c-di-GMP-mediated dynamic positioning controls HfsK activity, leading to its inactivation at high c-di-GMP levels. A short C-terminal extension is essential for the membrane association, c-di-GMP binding, and activity of HfsK. We propose a model in which c-di-GMP binding leads to the dispersal and inactivation of HfsK as part of holdfast biogenesis progression.IMPORTANCE Exopolysaccharide (EPS) adhesins are important determinants of bacterial surface colonization and biofilm formation. Biofilms are a major cause of chronic infections and are responsible for biofouling on water-exposed surfaces. To tackle these problems, it is essential to dissect the processes leading to surface colonization at the molecular and cellular levels. Here we describe a novel c-di-GMP effector, HfsK, that contributes to the cohesive properties and stability of the holdfast adhesin in C. crescentus We demonstrate for the first time that c-di-GMP, in addition to its role in the regulation of the rate of EPS production, also modulates the physicochemical properties of bacterial adhesins. By demonstrating how c-di-GMP coordinates the activity and subcellular localization of HfsK, we provide a novel understanding of the cellular processes involved in adhesin biogenesis control. Homologs of HfsK are found in representatives of different bacterial phyla, suggesting that they play important roles in various EPS synthesis systems.

Bacterial adhesion force quantification by fluidic force microscopy.

Quantification of detachment forces between bacteria and substrates facilitates the understanding of the bacterial adhesion process that affects cell physiology and survival. Here, we present a method that allows for serial, single bacterial cell force spectroscopy by combining the force control of atomic force microscopy with microfluidics. Reversible bacterial cell immobilization under physiological conditions on the pyramidal tip of a microchanneled cantilever is achieved by underpressure. Using the fluidic force microscopy technology (FluidFM), we achieve immobilization forces greater than those of state-of-the-art cell-cantilever binding as demonstrated by the detachment of Escherichia coli from polydopamine with recorded forces between 4 and 8 nN for many cells. The contact time and setpoint dependence of the adhesion forces of E. coli and Streptococcus pyogenes, as well as the sequential detachment of bacteria out of a chain, are shown, revealing distinct force patterns in the detachment curves. This study demonstrates the potential of the FluidFM technology for quantitative bacterial adhesion measurements of cell-substrate and cell-cell interactions that are relevant in biofilms and infection biology.

Force-controlled manipulation of single cells: from AFM to FluidFM.

The ability to perturb individual cells and to obtain information at the single-cell level is of central importance for addressing numerous biological questions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers great potential for this prospering field. Traditionally used as an imaging tool, more recent developments have extended the variety of cell-manipulation protocols. Fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM) combines AFM with microfluidics via microchanneled cantilevers with nano-sized apertures. The crucial element of the technology is the connection of the hollow cantilevers to a pressure controller, allowing their operation in liquid as force-controlled nanopipettes under optical control. Proof-of-concept studies demonstrated a broad spectrum of single-cell applications including isolation, deposition, adhesion and injection in a range of biological systems.

Rapid and serial quantification of adhesion forces of yeast and Mammalian cells.

Cell adhesion to surfaces represents the basis for niche colonization and survival. Here we establish serial quantification of adhesion forces of different cell types using a single probe. The pace of single-cell force-spectroscopy was accelerated to up to 200 yeast and 20 mammalian cells per probe when replacing the conventional cell trapping cantilever chemistry of atomic force microscopy by underpressure immobilization with fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM). In consequence, statistically relevant data could be recorded in a rapid manner, the spectrum of examinable cells was enlarged, and the cell physiology preserved until approached for force spectroscopy. Adhesion forces of Candida albicans increased from below 4 up to 16 nN at 37°C on hydrophobic surfaces, whereas a Δhgc1-mutant showed forces consistently below 4 nN. Monitoring adhesion of mammalian cells revealed mean adhesion forces of 600 nN of HeLa cells on fibronectin and were one order of magnitude higher than those observed for HEK cells.

Acute toxicity of organic chemicals to Gammarus pulex correlates with sensitivity of Daphnia magna across most modes of action.

We investigated the sensitivity of the freshwater crustacean amphipod Gammarus pulex towards organic xenobiotic compounds in comparison to the sensitivity of the crustacean cladoceran Daphnia magna. In addition we studied the influence of the chemical's mode of action on the relationship between the sensitivity of G. pulex and that of D. magna. We tested the acute toxicity of twelve compounds (Malathion, Aldicarb, Carbofuran, 2,4-dichloroaniline, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, 4,6-dinitro-o-cresol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, Ethylacrylate, 4-nitrobenzyl-chloride, Sea-nine, Imidacloprid) with different modes of action and physicochemical properties towards the freshwater amphipod G. pulex in laboratory experiments. Additional toxicity data was collected from the peer-reviewed literature and databases (data pairs for 44 chemicals in total). The chemicals were assigned to seven mode of action groups. The relationship between the sensitivity of G. pulex (48h-LC50s and 96h-LC50s) and that of D. magna (48h-EC50s) was investigated using regression analysis and correlation plots. G. pulex is two to three orders of magnitude more sensitive towards neonicotinoids than D. magna (P=0.0046, n=3). For organophosphates we found that D. magna is more sensitive than G. pulex by approximately a factor of six (P=0.0256, n=6). There was no significant difference between the sensitivity of D. magna and that of G. pulex in any of the other mode of action groups; however chemicals with the same mode of action grouped together in the same area of the correlation plot. Without the neonicotinoids 75% of all G. pulex toxicity data were within one order of magnitude of the D. magna data and 100% within two orders of magnitude. The regressions with all data and with all data minus neonicotinoids were both significant linear relationships with slopes around one and intercept around zero. Thus, G. pulex is generally equally sensitive towards organic xenobiotics as D. magna.