Prediction and control of multi-species systems: 10000-microbiome experiments

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20586
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 45:Biology at organismal to population levels and anthropology, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Toju Hirokazu 京都大学, 生命科学研究科, 教授 (60585024)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 時系列 / 微生物叢 / 生態系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

DNA metabarcoding data of time-series samples obtained from experimental microbial co-culture systems and aquatic microflora were analyzed to provide insight into the diversity of their dynamics. First, shotgun genomic analysis was used to elucidate the genetic repertoire of each bacterial species comprising the community. We then estimated the degree of competition for the same resources among bacterial species present in the same time-series sample (among MAGs). We calculated the degree of genetic overlap between pairs on a round-robin basis within a community and took the average of these values as an indicator for the degree of overlap in the basic niche. We found that the degree of niche overlap estimated from the degree of gene overlap was higher prior to major changes in community structure.

Free Research Field

生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来の群集生態学においては、前者は、代替安定状態（alternative stable states）という概念を中心に発展し、後者はカオス時系列動態として理論的に発展してきた。しかし、種多様な生物群集の時系列データ自体がこれまでほとんど存在してこなかったため、この２つの捉え方を整理して実証研究と理論研究をフィードバックさせるような取り組みは例がなかった。本研究プロジェクトにおいて得られた大規模生物群集時系列データによって、この２つの理論的枠組の間で整理を行うことが可能となった