Microbial competition between Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus monitored by imaging mass spectrometry

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Abstract
Microbial competition exists in the general environment, such as soil or aquatic habitats, upon or within unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic life forms. The molecular actions that govern microbial competition, leading to niche establishment and microbial monopolization, remain undetermined. The emerging technology of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) enabled the observation that there is directionality in the metabolic output of the organism Bacillus subtilis when co-cultured with Staphylococcus aureus. The directionally released antibiotic alters S. aureus virulence factor production and colonization. Therefore, IMS provides insight into the largely hidden nature of competitive microbial encounters and niche establishment, and provides a paradigm for future antibiotic discovery.
Funding Information
  • A. P. Gianinni Medical Research Foundation
  • NIH (R01 GM086283, R01 GM094802)
  • NIH Haemoglobin and Blood Protein Chemistry Training Program (5T32DK007233-34)