Selection, Succession, and Stabilization of Soil Microbial Consortia

• DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00055-19
• Publication Date: 2019-05-13T14:03:17Z
• Authors: Elias K. Zegeye; Colin J. Brislawn; Yuliya Farris; Sarah J. Fansler; Kirsten S. Hofmockel; Janet K. Jansson; Aaron T. Wright; Emily B. Graham; Dan Naylor; Ryan S. McClure; Hans C. Bernstein
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; microbiome; VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Basale medisinske, odontologiske og veterinærmedisinske fag: 710; N-acetylglucosamine; 15. Life on land; chitin; Microbiology; VDP::Medical disciplines: 700::Basic medical, dental and veterinary science disciplines: 710; QR1-502; microbiome stability; 03 medical and health sciences; microbial consortia; 14. Life underwater; model microbiome; Research Article

The soil microbiome carries out important ecosystem functions, but interactions between soil microbial communities have been difficult to study due to the high microbial diversity and complexity of the soil habitat. In this study, we successfully obtained stable consortia with reduced complexity that contained species found in the original source soil. These consortia and the methods used to obtain them can be a valuable resource for exploration of specific mechanisms underlying soil microbial community ecology. The results of this study also provide new experimental context to better inform how soil microbial communities are shaped by new environments and how a combination of initial taxonomic structure and physical environment influences stability.