Microbial Cooperation: How Environmental Stress Leads to Self-Sufficiency

A study reveals that environmental stress can cause cooperating microorganisms to become self-sufficient. Researchers from the Universidad de Málaga [University of Malaga] and international collaborators explored microbial evolution under extreme conditions. The findings, published in 'Nature Communications', highlight the fragility of microbial cooperation when facing environmental changes. Ignacio J. Melero-Jiménez, from the Universidad de Málaga [University of Malaga], collaborated with an international team. They used an experimental system mimicking a cooperative microbial community. The study demonstrated that the most common evolutionary solution for mutually dependent organisms facing extreme environmental change might be to become self-sufficient. The research focused on 'evolutionary rescue,' a rapid genetic adaptation allowing organisms to avoid extinction in critical situations. The team used genetically modified Escherichia coli [E. coli] bacteria, each strain dependent on the other for survival. When exposed to stress, the bacteria broke their cooperation to survive, a surprising evolutionary solution. "We exposed these communities to different conditions of lethal stress and monitored their growth during multiple generations," said the scientist from the UMA [Universidad de Málaga]. The study found that mutual dependence made bacteria more vulnerable to stress. Self-sufficient bacteria had a higher chance of survival, suggesting cooperation can be a disadvantage in adverse conditions. The findings have implications for biotechnology and microbial ecology. Understanding how microbial communities respond to stress can help predict the stability of microbiomes in various environments. This includes the human gut, agricultural soils, and industrial bioreactors, especially in the face of climate change and pollution.