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The Application of 3D Printing and Nutrient/Biomaterial Microhabitats for In Situ Enrichment of Microbial Cultures
Author(s) -
Andersen Morten,
Moreira-Grez Benjamin,
Andersen Magdalena Julia,
Whiteley Andrew
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.09053
Subject(s) - microorganism , bacteria , biology , proteobacteria , enrichment culture , microbial population biology , metagenomics , biofilm , nutrient , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , 16s ribosomal rna , gene , genetics
The objective of this study was to develop a new tool for selectively capturing new microorganisms from the environment. High‐throughput environmental sequencing has revealed a diversity much greater than that which we have brought into culture. Even so, the microorganisms that have been successfully cultured have yielded a wealth of pharmaceuticals, enzymes and living cultures for medical, agricultural and industrial use. Bringing new microorganisms into culture thus has great value. A MicroCaptureArray for high‐throughput in situ enrichment of new species from the environment using metabolic cues was created using 3D printing. The system is based on repurposing biomaterials developed for medical implants and controlled release devices [1], [2]. The MicroCaptureArray was tested in a terrestrial (soil) and an aquatic (pond) environment for 9 and 7 days, respectively. DNA was then isolated from the array and subjected to 16S sequencing with Qiime2 data analysis. The MicroCaptureArray attracted, captured and enriched different species, many of which were undetectable in the background community using 16S sequencing. The different metabolic cues resulted in the enrichment of different microorganisms. The system also enriched potentially new species, in several samples more then 25% of the captured microorganisms were unassignable beyond the Kingdom of Bacteria or the Phylum of Proteobacteria, in constrast, unassignable bacteria accounted for less than 0.3% of the background samples. In conclusion, the MicroCaptureArray shows that metabolic cues may be used for in situ baiting and enrichment culture of bacteria. The tool may allow researchers to detect rare microorganisms that are present but undetectable in the environment that may nonetheless play a major role when certain nutrients are introduced. It may also allow selective attraction and enrichment of environmental bacteria that are capable of metabolizing particular substances. This may allow targeted discovery of entirely new species with desirable properties. Support or Funding Information The project was supported by the Villum Foundation (grant number 17627)1 Slots C , Jensen MB , Ditzel N , Hedegaard MAB , Borg S , Albrektsen O , Thygesen T , Kassem K , Andersen MØ , Simple additive manufacturing of an osteoconductive ceramic using suspension melt extrusion . Dent Mater. 2017 ; 33 ( 2 ): 198 – 2082 Jensen MB , Slots C , Ditzel N , Albrektsen O , Borg S , Thygesen T , Kassem M , Andersen MØ . Composites of fatty acids and ceramic powders are versatile biomaterials for personalized implants and controlled release of pharmaceuticals . Bioprinting 2018 ; 11