PNNL

Abstract

The application of DNA microarray technology to investigate multiple-species microbial community presents great challenges. In this study, we reported the design and quality assessment of four whole genome oligonucleotide microarrays for two syntroph bacteria, Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans, and two archaeal methanogens, Methanosarcina barkeri and Methanospirillum hungatei, and their application to analyze global gene expression of this four-species microbial community in response to oxidative stress. In order to minimize the possible cross-hybridization, cross-genome comparison was performed to assure all probes unique to each genome so that the microarrays could provide species-level resolution. Microarray quality was validated by the good reproducibility of experimental measurements of multiple biological and analytical replicates. Microarray analysis showed that S. fumaroxidans and M. hungatei responded to the stress with up-regulation of several genes known to be involved in ROS detoxification, such as catalase and rubrerythrin in S. fumaroxidans and thioredoxin and heat shock protein Hsp20 in M. hungatei. Consistent with previous study in pure culture, the microarray analysis showed that genes involved in methane production and energy metabolism were down-regulated by oxidative stress in M. barkeri. However, D. vulgaris seemed less sensitive to the oxidative stress when grown in a community, with almost no gene up-regulated. The study demonstrated the successful application of microarray technology to multiple-species microbial community, and our preliminary results indicated that the approach can provide novel insights on the metabolic and regulatory networks within microbial communities.