Projects / Programmes
Investigations of cell-cell communications in multi cellular groups composed of different Bacillus isolates
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B230 |
Biomedical sciences |
Microbiology, bacteriology, virology, mycology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
biofilms, quorum sensing, kin discriminations, beneficial bacteria, PGPR traits, pant health, plant transcriptomics
Researchers (18)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Microbe-microbe and plant –microbe interactions in the rhizosphere determine plant health, productivity and soil fertility. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) are bacteria that can enhance plant growth and protect plants from disease and abiotic stresses through a wide variety of mechanisms. These bacterial inoculants, especially endospore-forming Bacillus strains, have been proven as efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. However, despite their many advantages, first generation PGPR often lack efficiency, failing to fulfil the expectations of the users, and new innovative approaches are needed to improve this eco-friendly technology. This project will tackle this gap in understanding and provide answers that are of fundamental ecological importance by investigating bacterial 'social interactions'. Bacteria are perceived as 'social' in that they generally exist in multicellular groups of cells (biofilms) where they engage in a fierce and unforgiving competition for resources (food and space) but also in cooperative (synergistic) interactions that enhance productivity of the community. The project will shed new light on two types of bacterial social interactions: a) Bacterial communication (also known as quorum sensing) and b) kin discrimination (KD). These behaviors will be studied in multicellular groups (biofilms) and also in relation to plant health. Understanding how bacteria communicate, identify their social partners, synchronize their behaviors to conduct multicellular functions is of fundamental scientific importance and will be the focus of this project. We predict that this knowledge is a key to improve PGPR inoculants and thus represents a highly innovative approach.The strength of the project is that it combines ecologically and agriculturally relevant model bacteria (B. subtilis and related species), agriculturally relevant plants (e.g. potato, tomato), carefully designed and hypothesis-driven experiments and mathematical modelling, which are essential to predict behaviour of complex systems (e.g. bacterial biofilms/inoculants composed of more than two strains or species). This novel strategy, based on understanding of QS and KD, will be addressed through joint efforts of three highly renowned research groups, from threee institutions: UL-BF, NIB and UM, that will generate fascinating discoveries important for development of new PGPR technologies based on fundamental understanding of Bacillus ecology and physiology. The novelty, fundamental nature and broad importance of the proposed science guaranties that the findings will be published in highly respected journals, with potential for patent applications.
Significance for science
The project is of fundamental importance as it will increase our understanding of cell-cell signalling mechanisms, kin discrimination and the impact and responses of genetically diverse bioinoculant communities. The approach is novel and hypothesis-driven and experiments will be designed based on ecological and evolutionary theory. The research has relevance to the wide range of signal-based and other interactive processes occurring in soil or on plant roots. The use of B. subtilis, a key, commercially important, environmentally friendly (GRAS), biocontrol agent provides additional relevance, because of its action against plant pathogens and growth promotion of economically important crops. Hypotheses that will be tested in this project are highly relevant for understanding of social evolution, understanding of fundamental biological principles of social interactions, mechanism of bacterial communications and plant response to microbial interactions. The state of the art comprises advanced methods in confocal microscopy, transcriptomic analyses and genetic engineering of bacterial strains together with mathematical modeling of social networks and will further advance these methodologies. Global population increases and climate change pose a challenge to worldwide crop production and we are in urgent need of innovative solutions to combat abiotic stress, pathogens, and pests and PGPR represents a key solution to solve these challenges. Furthermore, Slovenia has limited agricultural lands and eco-friendly technologies and PGPR represent solution to preserve the productivity of our agricultural soils. The project will strengthen collaborations between three highly complementary Slovenian research groups in addition to international collaborations. Due to multidisciplinary approach the proposed scientific hypotheses will lead to important discoveries and high impact publications in the best journals, potentially also additional EU/international projects, in the medium-term, and in the long run provide opportunities for patenting and commercial exploitation.
Significance for the country
The project is of fundamental importance as it will increase our understanding of cell-cell signalling mechanisms, kin discrimination and the impact and responses of genetically diverse bioinoculant communities. The approach is novel and hypothesis-driven and experiments will be designed based on ecological and evolutionary theory. The research has relevance to the wide range of signal-based and other interactive processes occurring in soil or on plant roots. The use of B. subtilis, a key, commercially important, environmentally friendly (GRAS), biocontrol agent provides additional relevance, because of its action against plant pathogens and growth promotion of economically important crops. Hypotheses that will be tested in this project are highly relevant for understanding of social evolution, understanding of fundamental biological principles of social interactions, mechanism of bacterial communications and plant response to microbial interactions. The state of the art comprises advanced methods in confocal microscopy, transcriptomic analyses and genetic engineering of bacterial strains together with mathematical modeling of social networks and will further advance these methodologies. Global population increases and climate change pose a challenge to worldwide crop production and we are in urgent need of innovative solutions to combat abiotic stress, pathogens, and pests and PGPR represents a key solution to solve these challenges. Furthermore, Slovenia has limited agricultural lands and eco-friendly technologies and PGPR represent solution to preserve the productivity of our agricultural soils. The project will strengthen collaborations between three highly complementary Slovenian research groups in addition to international collaborations. Due to multidisciplinary approach the proposed scientific hypotheses will lead to important discoveries and high impact publications in the best journals, potentially also additional EU/international projects, in the medium-term, and in the long run provide opportunities for patenting and commercial exploitation.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
