Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 124-130 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 126 3 Historical Overview of the SynCom Concept 3.1 Evolution of the SynCom concept alongside microbial ecology The journey of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) is closely tied to the advancements in microbial ecology. Initially, the study of microbial communities was challenged by the complexity and variability of the environment. As microbial ecology progressed, the introduction of SynComs became a revolutionary approach. This allowed for a more controlled and systematic exploration of microbial functions and their contributions to plant health. SynComs simplified the complex interactions in natural microbial assemblages, thereby providing a clearer picture of the contributions and dynamics within microbial communities. This transition marked a significant shift from studying individual microbe-plant interactions to understanding the collective impact of microbial consortia. 3.2 Insights into plant-microbe regulation mechanisms through SynComs SynComs have bridged the gap in understanding the intricate regulation mechanisms between plants and their associated microbiomes. By employing a reductionist approach, researchers have been able to construct simplified versions of microbial communities to study the core interactions that govern the plant-microbiome relationship. This method has provided valuable functional and mechanistic insights, revealing how plants may influence the composition and function of their microbiomes and vice versa. Through studies employing SynComs, scientists like Liu et al. (2019) have demonstrated that plants can recruit specific microbial species from the environment, which in turn can modulate the plant's health and growth. This research underscores the potential of SynComs to dissect complex biological interactions into more manageable and observable phenomena, offering a clearer understanding of the symbiotic relationships at play . 4 Research Progress in SynComs 4.1 Exploring plant root microbiomes: diverse methodologies for comprehensive understanding In 2021, Marín et al. detail three investigative strategies for studying the root microbiome in plants (Figure 1). The Reductionist Approach, also known as Bottom-up, starts with the analysis of single microbial strains through culture-dependent techniques, offering precise insights into individual plant-microbe interactions with the benefit of simpler experimentation and high certainty in identifying specific microbial species. In contrast, the Holistic Approach or Top-down method delves into the complexities of wild microbial communities by utilizing culture-independent 'omics' techniques. While this approach embraces the dynamic nature of the rhizosphere, it trades off specificity for broader ecological insights, discerning patterns through correlational rather than causal analyses. Bridging these methodologies is the Synthetic Community (SynCom) Experimentation. This intermediate method combines the clarity of the Reductionist Approach with the encompassing perspective of the Holistic Approach. SynCom experiments deploy specially designed microbial communities of known composition, allowing researchers to manage experimental complexity more effectively and gain deeper understanding of microbe-microbe and plant-microbe interactions (Marín et al., 2021). Framework of Marín et al. (2021) demonstrates the necessary balance between experimental complexity, certainty in microbial identification, and the depth of insights when researching plant root microbiomes. Their schematic underscores the need for both targeted and comprehensive strategies to fully grasp the intricate web of interactions in the microbiome that significantly influence plant health. 4.2 Recent studies highlighting SynComs' role in crop resiliency and environmental stress adaptation The development of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) represents a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology. Research has increasingly focused on how these engineered communities can bolster crop resilience, especially under challenging environmental conditions. In a pivotal study, Souza et al. (2020) detailed the design of SynComs that bolstered plant traits linked to improved stress tolerance, demonstrating a notable enhancement in crop resiliency.
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