Visualizing microbial community dynamics within soil environments remains challenging. Here, we developed a custom-built SoilBox system that facilitates probing various changes occurring in microbial community development and molecular processes when exposed to environmental perturbations (e.g., temperature changes, drought, nutrient availability). Using confocal microscopy along with mass spectrometry imaging, we demonstrate the power of this system by correlating microbial growth and spatial metabolic information from soil communities under different moisture regimes.
Revised: February 19, 2020 |
Published: February 11, 2020
Citation
Bhattacharjee A., D. Velickovic, T.W. Wietsma, S.L. Bell, J.K. Jansson, K.S. Hofmockel, and C.R. Anderton. 2020.Visualizing Microbial Community Dynamics Via a Controllable Soil Environment.mSystems 5, no. 1:Article No. e00645-19.PNNL-SA-147223.doi:10.1128/mSystems.00645-19