Scientists from Trinity College Dublin use bacteria to replicate ecological systems in the lab and found that mutations of a single gene that change how one bacterial species interacts with others had huge structural impacts across their multi-species microbial communities. These mutants produce biofilms according to their ability and many of which cause great health problems in body. It had chain effect on other species and completely change the structure of the communities.
"We know that predators are hugely important in influencing how ecosystems are structured, as they control the numbers and diversity of other species in the food web. It is incredible that such a small genetic change can cause these mutants to completely alter communities as much as the extinction of something as important as a predator," said Assistant Professor in Zoology at Trinity, Dr Ian Donohue.
The study shows wide scope for fine-scale genetic differences within populations to change entire ecosystems including microbial ones to lakes, forests and marine system.
"It's amazing to know that just one change in a single gene has the potential to have such a huge effect that it can change whole ecosystems," said Deirdre McClean, lead author of the study and PhD Researcher in Zoology at Trinity.
The results will be helpful to disease researchers, drug developers, ecologists and even geneticists. Besides, better understanding of the effect will be critical to develop treatments aimed at manipulating our gut microbiota specifically.
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