Importance of quorum sensing crosstalk in the brown alga Saccharina latissima epimicrobiome

• Published in: iScience Vol. 27; no. 3; p. 109176
• Main Authors: Adouane, Emilie, Mercier, Camille, Mamelle, Jeanne, Willocquet, Emma, Intertaglia, Laurent, Burgunter-Delamare, Bertille, Leblanc, Catherine, Rousvoal, Sylvie, Lami, Raphaël, Prado, Soizic
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.03.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biodiversity and Ecology; Environmental Sciences; Microbiofilms; Microbiology; Microbiology; Microbiofilms
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109176

Brown macroalgae are colonized by diverse microorganisms influencing the physiology of their host. However, cell-cell interactions within the surface microbiome (epimicrobiome) are largely unexplored, despite the significance of specific chemical mediators in maintaining host-microbiome homeostasis. In this study, by combining liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis and bioassays, we demonstrated that the widely diverse fungal epimicrobiota of the brown alga Saccharina latissima can affect quorum sensing (QS), a type of cell-cell interaction, as well as bacterial biofilm formation. We also showed the ability of the bacterial epimicrobiota to form and inhibit biofilm growth, as well as to activate or inhibit QS pathways. Overall, we demonstrate that QS and anti-QS compounds produced by the epimicrobiota are key metabolites in these brown algal epimicrobiota communities and highlight the importance of exploring this epimicrobiome for the discovery of new bioactive compounds, including potentially anti-QS molecules with antifouling properties. [Display omitted] •The epimicrobiome of brown alga S. latissima shows high microbial and chemical diversity•The algal epimicrobiome hosts intense and multidirectional cell-cell communication•QS and anti-QS compounds are crucial for cell-cell communication in fungi and bacteria•Algal epimicrobiome yields bioactive compounds, potential anti-QS antifouling agents Microbiology; Microbiofilms