Experimental Microbiome · “How mutualism evolves: Experimental microbiome evolution in gnotobiotic flies”

“How mutualism evolves: Experimental microbiome evolution in gnotobiotic flies”

The research project “Experimental Microbiome” had the aim of uncovering the genetic basis of microbial benefit to animal growth. A large number of microbes live in association with animals. These microbes, called microbiota, profoundly affect the biology of their animal partners. In the gut, they enhance digestive efficiency, promoting host growth and development. Given their important role in shaping animal and human physiology, we are witnessing a blooming interest in the role of microbes, and specifically of “probiotics” (i.e. “Live microorganisms which confer a health benefit on the host"). Because of the current incidence of metabolic diseases, and the emerging link between these pathologies, nutrition and intestinal microbiota, the potential role of the microbiota in these pathologies is being revisited. In particular, until recently no study has informed us how the microbiome activities govern juvenile growth. The “Experimental Microbiome” research project addressed this issue. I focused on the identification of the bacterial genes involved into host growth promoting effect, by exploiting a simple one host/one bacterium model: Drosophila melanogaster associated with one of its natural commensals Lactobacillus plantarum. In order to disclose the genes involved in the growth promoting effect, I experimentally evolved a “poor” growth-promoting strain into a “potent” growth promoting strain, identifying the genetic variants responsible for the phenotype improvement. The present work allowed us to pinpoint the bacterial genes involved in Drosophila growth promotion, shedding light into the complex relationships between commensal bacteria and their animal partners.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз