Manuel Liebeke

@manuelliebeke.bsky.social

Professor for Metabolomics, Kiel University and Head of Metabolic Interactions group, Max Planck Inst. for Marine Microbiology #spatialMetabolomics #host-microbe #metabolomics #massspec #hostmicrobe #spatialbiology #coffeelover

Deciphering microbial spatial organization: insights from synthetic and engineered communities | ISME Communications | Oxford Academic

Deciphering microbial spatial organization: insights from synthetic and engineered communities

Microbial communities are frequently organized into complex spatial structures, shaped by intrinsic cellular traits, interactions between community members, initial growth condition or environmental factors. Under- standing the mechanisms that drive these spatial patterns is essential for uncovering fundamental principles of microbial ecology and for developing applications. Using genetic engineering and synthetic microbial communities allows us to decipher how specific parameters influence spatial organization. In this review, we highlight recent studies that leverage synthetic microbial communities to deepen our understanding of microbial spatial ecology. We begin by exploring how initial conditions, such as cell density and relative species abundance, influence spatial organization. We then focus on studies that examine the role of individ- ual microbial traits, such as cell shape and motility. Next, we discuss the impact of contact-dependent and long-range interactions, including metabolite exchange and toxin release. Furthermore, we highlight the in- fluence of environmental factors on spatial dynamics. Finally, we address the current limitations of synthetic approaches and propose future directions to bridge the gap between engineered and natural systems.

academic.oup.com

Double success for Kiel University: The Clusters of Excellence 'Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation' (PMI) and 'ROOTS – Social, Environmental, and Cultural Connectivity in Past Societies' @clusterroots.bsky.social will be funded for another seven years!

Kiel University in the Excellence Strategy: Success for the two Kiel clusters PMI and ROOTS

The German Research Foundation announced which collaborative research projects will receive funding for the next seven years as Clusters of Excellence.

uni-kiel.de

Hey, new paper by @cleggtom.bsky.social and me is just out in @pnas.org. This combines a lot of things that start with B: Biodiversity, Bipartite Networks, Bifurcations, Bacteria, ... www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... And yes, I know, Fig 1 looks like one of 'those' papers but please read on ...

Cross-feeding creates tipping points in microbiome diversity | PNAS

A key unresolved question in microbial ecology is how the extraordinary diversity of microbiomes emerges from the interactions among their many fun...

pnas.org