Decrypting inter-cellular communication within the soil microbiome by eavesdropping on pairwise signaling between bacteria
EMSL Project ID
50808
Abstract
The soil microbiome is composed of a dense network of interacting cells that play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling and plant growth. Decrypting how soil microorganisms communicate through a wide variety of small molecules is essential for understanding their functional roles and ecological dynamics. We have previously developed and characterized a 3D printed platform for eavesdropping on interactions between pairs of bacteria. Using advanced mass spectrometry resources at EMSL, we can apply this platform in high-throughput to infer the context-specific language of microbial communication for a large panel of soil bacteria. In particular, we seek to tease apart individual contributions to the immense signaling network within the soil microbiome. This will enable us to elucidate higher-order principles of inter-cellular communication, with the ultimate goals of manipulating the soil microbiome to improve nutrient management, identifying novel strategies in microbial competition, and controlling plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere. Importantly, this project will serve as a basis for future proposals to EMSL and the DOE.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2019-10-01
End Date
2022-04-20
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members