Synthetic Symbiosis under Environmental Disturbances

Abstract

By virtue of complex ecologies, the behavior of mutualisms is challenging to study and nearly impossible to predict. However, laboratory engineered mutualistic systems facilitate a better understanding of their bare essentials. On the basis of an abstract theoretical model and a modifiable experimental yeast system, we explore the environmental limits of self-organized cooperation based on the production and use of specific metabolites. We develop and test the assumptions and stability of the theoretical model by leveraging the simplicity of an artificial yeast system as a simple model of mutualism. We examine how one-off, recurring, and permanent changes to an ecological niche affect a cooperative interaction and change the population composition of an engineered mutualistic system. Moreover, we explore how the cellular burden of cooperating influences the stability of mutualism and how environmental changes shape this stability. Our results highlight the fragility of mutualisms and suggest interventions, including those that rely on the use of synthetic biology. IMPORTANCE The power of synthetic biology is immense. Will it, however, be able to withstand the environmental pressures once released in the wild. As new technologies aim to do precisely the same, we use a much simpler model to test mathematically the effect of a changing environment on a synthetic biological system. We assume that the system is successful if it maintains proportions close to what we observe in the laboratory. Extreme deviations from the expected equilibrium are possible as the environment changes. Our study provides the conditions and the designer specifications which may need to be incorporated in the synthetic systems if we want such “ecoblocs” to survive in the wild.

Antibiotic-mediated interactions underlying microbial diversity

“…However, note that the model in [16] predicts that microbial communities in some cases are never in an ecologically stable state and are constantly in a state of flux with rapid turnover of antibiotics and strains, but this view does not seem to be widely held. Such communities can be perturbed via further ecological destabilisation of ongoing evolutionary dynamics [37, 38]. In particular, this could take the form of immigration of new individuals into a stable community or mutation of resident phenotypes, which can correspond to an increase in the number of strains N .…”

Ecological Drivers of Community Cohesion

“…This theoretical framework is a part of a larger ongoing project on the evolution and ecology of synthetic communities ( 22 , 23 , 32 ). An application of an extended consortium system, and a key driver behind the development of this model, would be predicting the outcomes of ecosystem interventions.…”

“…This has facilitated the development of synthetic yeast cross-feeding models of mutualism. A system of interdependent strains of yeast, one overproducing lysine and lacking adenine and the other overproducing adenine and lacking lysine, was developed in the study reported in reference 22 and analyzed in detail both biochemically and ecologically ( 17 , 32 ). The strains overproducing leucine and lacking tryptophan and vice versa were developed in the study reported in reference 23 .…”

“…Instead of evolving symbiotic interactions, we started with engineered interactions ( 17 , 22 ). This approach allowed us to control one aspect of eco-evolutionary dynamics, the interactions, while exploring the ecology ( 31 , 32 ). Using the growth properties of this system, we developed a theoretical model.…”

Enhancing Students' Self-Efficacy and Mathematical Analysis Skills: Applying the Guided Discovery Learning Model Supported by YouTube

“…Self-efficacy, the belief in one's ability to perform tasks and face challenges, significantly influences students' engagement in learning and problem-solving in mathematics, leading to improved outcomes (Bandura, 2013;Cervone et al, 2020;Luu, 2023;Martin, 2020;Yentür, 2023). Concurrently, mathematical analysis skills, essential for critical thinking and problem-solving, enable students to dissect, understand, and apply mathematical concepts to complex problems, underscoring their relevance beyond academic settings into professional and daily decision-making (Denton & Gokhale, 2020;Satake et al, 2019;Uria-Albizuri et al, 2020). Therefore, integrating strategies to boost self-efficacy alongside developing analytical skills in mathematics curricula is paramount for preparing students to navigate and innovate within our rapidly changing world, emphasizing the intertwined roles of these competencies in lifelong learning and adaptability.…”