De novo evolved interference competition promotes the spread of biofilm defectors

Marivic Martin, Anna Dragoš, Theresa Hölscher, Gergely Maróti, Balázs Bálint, Martin Westermann and Ákos T. Kovács ()
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Marivic Martin: Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Anna Dragoš: Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Theresa Hölscher: Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Gergely Maróti: Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Balázs Bálint: Seqomics Biotechnology Ltd.
Martin Westermann: Electron Microscopy Center, Jena University Hospital
Ákos T. Kovács: Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Biofilms are social entities where bacteria live in tightly packed agglomerations, surrounded by self-secreted exopolymers. Since production of exopolymers is costly and potentially exploitable by non-producers, mechanisms that prevent invasion of non-producing mutants are hypothesized. Here we study long-term dynamics and evolution in Bacillus subtilis biofilm populations consisting of wild-type (WT) matrix producers and mutant non-producers. We show that non-producers initially fail to incorporate into biofilms formed by the WT cells, resulting in 100-fold lower final frequency compared to the WT. However, this is modulated in a long-term scenario, as non-producers evolve the ability to better incorporate into biofilms, thereby slightly decreasing the productivity of the whole population. Detailed molecular analysis reveals that the unexpected shift in the initially stable biofilm is coupled with newly evolved phage-mediated interference competition. Our work therefore demonstrates how collective behaviour can be disrupted as a result of rapid adaptation through mobile genetic elements.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15127

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