Enhanced surface colonisation and competition during bacterial adaptation to a fungus

Anne Richter, Felix Blei, Guohai Hu, Jan W. Schwitalla, Carlos N. Lozano-Andrade, Jiyu Xie, Scott A. Jarmusch, Mario Wibowo, Bodil Kjeldgaard, Surabhi Surabhi, Xinming Xu, Theresa Jautzus, Christopher B. W. Phippen, Olaf Tyc, Mark Arentshorst, Yue Wang, Paolina Garbeva, Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen, Arthur F. J. Ram, Cees A. M. Hondel, Gergely Maróti and Ákos T. Kovács ()
Additional contact information
Anne Richter: Technical University of Denmark
Felix Blei: Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Guohai Hu: Technical University of Denmark
Jan W. Schwitalla: Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Carlos N. Lozano-Andrade: Technical University of Denmark
Jiyu Xie: Leiden University
Scott A. Jarmusch: Technical University of Denmark
Mario Wibowo: Technical University of Denmark
Bodil Kjeldgaard: Technical University of Denmark
Surabhi Surabhi: Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Xinming Xu: Leiden University
Theresa Jautzus: Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Christopher B. W. Phippen: Technical University of Denmark
Olaf Tyc: Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Mark Arentshorst: Leiden University
Yue Wang: BGI-Shenzhen
Paolina Garbeva: Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen: Technical University of Denmark
Arthur F. J. Ram: Leiden University
Cees A. M. Hondel: Leiden University
Gergely Maróti: Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH)
Ákos T. Kovács: Technical University of Denmark

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Bacterial-fungal interactions influence microbial community performance of most ecosystems and elicit specific microbial behaviours, including stimulating specialised metabolite production. Here, we use a co-culture experimental evolution approach to investigate bacterial adaptation to the presence of a fungus, using a simple model of bacterial-fungal interactions encompassing the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the fungus Aspergillus niger. We find in one evolving population that B. subtilis was selected for enhanced production of the lipopeptide surfactin and accelerated surface spreading ability, leading to inhibition of fungal expansion and acidification of the environment. These phenotypes were explained by specific mutations in the DegS-DegU two-component system. In the presence of surfactin, fungal hyphae exhibited bulging cells with delocalised secretory vesicles possibly provoking an RlmA-dependent cell wall stress. Thus, our results indicate that the presence of the fungus selects for increased surfactin production, which inhibits fungal growth and facilitates the competitive success of the bacterium.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48812-1

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