E. coli evolves into an insect mutualist in real-time

Takema Fukatsu

Prime Senior Researcher, AIST

Professor, University of Tokyo

Professor, University of Tsukuba

Research Director, ERATO Fukatsu Evolving Symbiosis Project

E-mail: t-fukatsu@aist.go.jp

Website: https://www.jst.go.jp/erato/fukatsu/english/

Abstract:

Obligate insect-bacterium mutualism is among the most sophisticated forms of symbiosis. Originally, such obligate symbiotic bacteria must have been derived from free-living environmental bacteria. How have highly specialized obligate mutualists arisen from less-specialized free-living microorganisms? To address this fundamental evolutionary issue, we recently established a novel experimental model system that enables laboratory evolution of mutualism between the stinkbug Plautia stali and the model bacterium Escherichia coli [1]. Under the ERATO project [2], we aim at drastically promoting our understanding of symbiosis using the novel insect-E. coli and mammal-E. coli experimental symbiotic systems in combination with genome engineering technologies, ex vivo microfluidic bacterial culture technologies, and high-throughput robotic experimental evolutionary systems [3].

References: [1] Koga R et al. (2022) Nature Microbiology 7:1141-1150. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01179-9

[2] ERATO FUKATSU Evolving Symbiosis Project HP https://www.jst.go.jp/erato/fukatsu/english/

[3] ERATO FUKATSU Evolving Symbiosis Project YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@eratosymbiosis