PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sofija Andrić
AU  - Thibault Meyer
AU  - Augustin Rigolet
AU  - Anthony Argüelles Arias
AU  - Sébastien Steels
AU  - Grégory Hoff
AU  - Monica Höfte
AU  - René De Mot
AU  - Andrea McCann
AU  - Edwin De Pauw
AU  - Marc Ongena
TI  - Chelator sensing and lipopeptide interplay mediates molecular interspecies interactions between soil bacilli and pseudomonads
AID  - 10.1101/2021.02.22.432387
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.02.22.432387
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/23/2021.02.22.432387.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/23/2021.02.22.432387.full
AB  - Some bacterial species are important members of the rhizosphere microbiome and confer protection to the host plant against pathogens. However, our knowledge is still limited about the multitrophic interactions determining the ecological fitness of these biocontrol bacteria in their highly competitive natural niche. In this work, we have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying interactions between B. velezensis, considered as model plant-associated and beneficial species in the Bacillus genus, and Pseudomonas as a rhizosphere-dwelling competitor. Our data show that B. velezensis boosts its arsenal of specialized antibacterials upon the perception of the secondary siderophore pyochelin produced by phylogenetically distinct pseudomonads and some other genera. We postulate that B. velezensis has developed some chelator sensing systems to learn about the identity of its surrounding competitors. Illustrating the multifaceted molecular response of Bacillus, surfactin is another crucial component of the secondary metabolome mobilized in interbacteria competition. Its accumulation not only enhances motility capability but, unexpectedly, this lipopeptide also acts as a chemical trap that reduce the toxicity of other lipopeptides released by Pseudomonas challengers. This favors the persistence of Bacillus populations upon competitive root colonization. Our work thus highlights new ecological roles for bacterial secondary metabolites acting as key drivers of social interactions.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.