Although we now readily profile constituents of microbial communities through metagenomics, we know relatively little about the spatial structures and interactions among the individuals with ecological context. Irrespective of the methods applied and the complexity of community assemblages, the clearest conserved indicator among biofilms propagated in the laboratory is that individual cells grow as densely packed clonal aggregates of varying scale with heterogeneous boundaries. The ultimate significance of clonal aggregates is clearly supported by the universality of quorum sensing systems; many microbial phenotypes, including extracellular matrix production and pathogenic traits, are centrally regulated through clonal density. Heterogeneity and complexity of microbial communities are then expected to develop dynamically through a continuum of both genetically conserved and emergent properties.
Modern sequencing platforms confer robust profiling of microbial communities at high resolution, which permits statistical assessment of correlations between their dynamics and potential impact on our health, industries, and environment. However, there are clear limitations to heavily relying on correlations in advancing science and developing impactful applications. On the other hand, decades of research on biofilms demonstrates fundamental mechanisms of microbial interaction but with relatively little ecological context. Moving forward, a much greater emphasis needs to be placed on bridging correlations and mechanisms across broad spatial, temporal, and phylogenetic scales. This remains a rare achievement and an extremely challenging task in the field of microbiology.
We invite submissions of original research, perspectives, and mini-reviews that collectively explore diverse experimental approaches toward the mechanistic understanding of microbial community dynamics across broad spatial, temporal, and phylogenetic scales:
1) Integration of omics approaches (i.e. metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) with high-resolution microscopy to visualize spatial structures of microbial communities
2) Methods to extrapolate mechanistic information from omics data
3) Empirical and computational modeling of natural microbial communities
4) Mechanisms of competition and cooperation within microbial communities with an emphasis on the interactions of extracellular secretions and/or surface appendages
5) Manifestation of micron-scale intercellular interactions at the population level
Although we now readily profile constituents of microbial communities through metagenomics, we know relatively little about the spatial structures and interactions among the individuals with ecological context. Irrespective of the methods applied and the complexity of community assemblages, the clearest conserved indicator among biofilms propagated in the laboratory is that individual cells grow as densely packed clonal aggregates of varying scale with heterogeneous boundaries. The ultimate significance of clonal aggregates is clearly supported by the universality of quorum sensing systems; many microbial phenotypes, including extracellular matrix production and pathogenic traits, are centrally regulated through clonal density. Heterogeneity and complexity of microbial communities are then expected to develop dynamically through a continuum of both genetically conserved and emergent properties.
Modern sequencing platforms confer robust profiling of microbial communities at high resolution, which permits statistical assessment of correlations between their dynamics and potential impact on our health, industries, and environment. However, there are clear limitations to heavily relying on correlations in advancing science and developing impactful applications. On the other hand, decades of research on biofilms demonstrates fundamental mechanisms of microbial interaction but with relatively little ecological context. Moving forward, a much greater emphasis needs to be placed on bridging correlations and mechanisms across broad spatial, temporal, and phylogenetic scales. This remains a rare achievement and an extremely challenging task in the field of microbiology.
We invite submissions of original research, perspectives, and mini-reviews that collectively explore diverse experimental approaches toward the mechanistic understanding of microbial community dynamics across broad spatial, temporal, and phylogenetic scales:
1) Integration of omics approaches (i.e. metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) with high-resolution microscopy to visualize spatial structures of microbial communities
2) Methods to extrapolate mechanistic information from omics data
3) Empirical and computational modeling of natural microbial communities
4) Mechanisms of competition and cooperation within microbial communities with an emphasis on the interactions of extracellular secretions and/or surface appendages
5) Manifestation of micron-scale intercellular interactions at the population level
