Genetic and species rearrangements in microbial consortia impact biodegradation potential

Abstract

Genomic reorganisation between species and horizontal gene transfer have been considered the most important mechanism of biological adaptation under selective pressure. Still, the impact of mobile genes in microbial ecology is far from being completely understood. Here we present the collection and characterisation of microbial consortia enriched from environments contaminated with emerging pollutants, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We have obtained and further enriched two ibuprofen-degrading microbial consortia from two unrelated wastewater treatment plants. We have also studied their ability to degrade the drug and the dynamics of the reorganisations of the genetic information responsible for its biodegradation among the species within the consortium. Our results show that genomic reorganisation within microorganisms and species rearrangements occur rapidly and efficiently during the selection process, which may be facilitated by plasmids and/or transposable elements located within the sequences. We show the evolution of at least two different plasmid backbones on samples from different locations, showing rearrangements of genomic information, including genes encoding activities for IBU degradation. As a result, we found variations in the expression pattern of the consortia after evolution under selective pressure, as an adaptation process to the new conditions. This work provides evidence for changes in the metagenomes of microbial communities that allow adaptation under a selective constraint –ibuprofen as a sole carbon source– and represents a step forward in knowledge that can inspire future biotechnological developments for drug bioremediation.