AUTHOR=Uehling Jessie K. , Entler Matthew R. , Meredith Hannah R. , Millet Larry J. , Timm Collin M. , Aufrecht Jayde A. , Bonito Gregory M. , Engle Nancy L. , Labbé Jessy L. , Doktycz Mitchel J. , Retterer Scott T. , Spatafora Joseph W. , Stajich Jason E. , Tschaplinski Timothy J. , Vilgalys Rytas J. 

TITLE=Microfluidics and Metabolomics Reveal Symbiotic Bacterial–Fungal Interactions Between Mortierella elongata and Burkholderia Include Metabolite Exchange

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02163

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2019.02163

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>We identified two poplar (<italic>Populus</italic> sp.)-associated microbes, the fungus, <italic>Mortierella elongata</italic> strain AG77, and the bacterium, <italic>Burkholderia</italic> strain BT03, that mutually promote each other’s growth. Using culture assays in concert with a novel microfluidic device to generate time-lapse videos, we found growth specific media differing in pH and pre-conditioned by microbial growth led to increased fungal and bacterial growth rates. Coupling microfluidics and comparative metabolomics data results indicated that observed microbial growth stimulation involves metabolic exchange during two ordered events. The first is an emission of fungal metabolites, including organic acids used or modified by bacteria. A second signal of unknown nature is produced by bacteria which increases fungal growth rates. We find this symbiosis is initiated in part by metabolic exchange involving fungal organic acids.</p>