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EcoFAB 2.0 Root Microbiome Ring Trial SynCom17

A 17-member synthetic bacterial community (SynCom17) used in a standardized inter-laboratory ring trial across five international laboratories (LBNL, UNC Chapel Hill, Max Planck Cologne, Forschungszentrum Julich, U Melbourne) to study root microbiome recruitment and exudate composition of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon in EcoFAB 2.0 fabricated ecosystem devices. All 17 members were originally isolated from switchgrass rhizosphere soil and span four bacterial phyla (Actinomycetota, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota). In the full SynCom17, Paraburkholderia sp. OAS925 reproducibly dominates root colonization (~98% relative abundance) across all five labs, uniquely possessing a Type 3 Secretion System (T3SS), high motility, and acid resistance. Removing Paraburkholderia (SynCom16) yields a more variable community dominated by Rhodococcus sp. OAS809 (~68%), Mycobacterium sp. OAE908 (~14%), and Methylobacterium sp. OAE515 (~15%). The study demonstrated that EcoFAB 2.0 with standardized protocols achieves reproducible plant phenotype, exudate, and community structure data across continents, providing benchmark datasets for plant-microbiome research.

Taxonomy

Taxon Ontology ID Functional Roles Abundance
Paraburkholderia sp. OAS925 NCBITaxon:1822464
PRIMARY_DEGRADER
DOMINANT
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Paraburkholderia sp. OAS925 could dramatically shift microbiome composition"
Rhodococcus sp. OAS809 NCBITaxon:1827
PRIMARY_DEGRADER
RARE
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Mycobacterium sp. OAE908 NCBITaxon:1763
PRIMARY_DEGRADER
N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Methylobacterium sp. OAE515 NCBITaxon:407
CROSS_FEEDER
N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Variovorax sp. OAS795 NCBITaxon:34072 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Rhizobium sp. OAE497 NCBITaxon:379 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Bosea sp. OAE506 NCBITaxon:85413 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Bradyrhizobium sp. OAE829 NCBITaxon:374 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Lysobacter sp. OAE881 NCBITaxon:68 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Arthrobacter sp. OAP107 NCBITaxon:1667 RARE
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Marmoricola sp. OAE513 NCBITaxon:86795 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Chitinophaga sp. OAE865 NCBITaxon:79328 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Mucilaginibacter sp. OAE612 NCBITaxon:423349 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Niastella sp. OAS944 NCBITaxon:354354 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Gottfriedia sp. OAE603 NCBITaxon:2837503 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Brevibacillus sp. OAP136 NCBITaxon:55080 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"
Paenibacillus sp. OAE614 NCBITaxon:44249 N/A
  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Ecological Interactions

Ecological interaction network for EcoFAB 2.0 Root Microbiome Ring Trial SynCom17 Bipartite graph where circle nodes represent taxa and colored rectangles represent ecological interactions (cross-feeding, mutualism, syntrophy, competition, commensalism).
Taxon
Cross-feeding
Mutualism
Syntrophy
Competition
Commensalism
Niche partitioning
Colonization facilitation
Strain competition
Predation

Paraburkholderia Competitive Exclusion

COMPETITION

Source Taxon: Paraburkholderia sp. OAS925

Target Taxon: Rhodococcus sp. OAS809

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Paraburkholderia sp. OAS925 could dramatically shift microbiome composition"

Root Exudate Modulation

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Paraburkholderia sp. OAS925

Target Taxon: Methylobacterium sp. OAE515

Metabolites: shikimic acid (CHEBI:36215), p-coumaric acid (CHEBI:32374)

Evidence

  • doi:10.1126/sciadv.adg7888 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "nitrogen deficiency decreased nitrogen-containing compounds but increased shikimates-phenylpropanoids"

SynCom16 Community Assembly with Rhodococcus

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Rhodococcus sp. OAS809

Target Taxon: Variovorax sp. OAS795

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Rhizobium

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Mycobacterium sp. OAE908

Target Taxon: Rhizobium sp. OAE497

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Bosea

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Methylobacterium sp. OAE515

Target Taxon: Bosea sp. OAE506

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Bradyrhizobium

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Rhodococcus sp. OAS809

Target Taxon: Bradyrhizobium sp. OAE829

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Lysobacter

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Mycobacterium sp. OAE908

Target Taxon: Lysobacter sp. OAE881

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Arthrobacter

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Rhodococcus sp. OAS809

Target Taxon: Arthrobacter sp. OAP107

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Marmoricola

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Methylobacterium sp. OAE515

Target Taxon: Marmoricola sp. OAE513

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Chitinophaga

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Mycobacterium sp. OAE908

Target Taxon: Chitinophaga sp. OAE865

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Mucilaginibacter

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Rhodococcus sp. OAS809

Target Taxon: Mucilaginibacter sp. OAE612

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Niastella

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Methylobacterium sp. OAE515

Target Taxon: Niastella sp. OAS944

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Gottfriedia

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Mycobacterium sp. OAE908

Target Taxon: Gottfriedia sp. OAE603

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Brevibacillus

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Rhodococcus sp. OAS809

Target Taxon: Brevibacillus sp. OAP136

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Cross-Feeding with Paenibacillus

CROSS_FEEDING

Source Taxon: Methylobacterium sp. OAE515

Target Taxon: Paenibacillus sp. OAE614

Biological Processes:

  • interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)

Evidence

  • PMID:40920748 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "All participating laboratories observed consistent inoculum-dependent changes in plant phenotype, root exudate composition, and final bacterial community structure"

Associated Datasets

Dataset Type Repository Accession
16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data from all five ring trial laboratories for root and medium samples.
AMPLICON_16S NCBI_BIOPROJECT PRJNA1151037
Untargeted Metabolomics (LC-MS/MS)
HILIC-pos untargeted metabolomics with feature annotations and .mzml files for root exudate analysis.
METABOLOMICS GNPS gnps.task:2ccbf82840724c99a2acc2c9e512a302
Raw LC-MS/MS Files
Raw LC-MS/MS files (.raw format) for root exudate metabolomics.
METABOLOMICS MASSIVE MSV000095476
NMDC Integrated Study
Integrated study record in the National Microbiome Data Collaborative, linking amplicon, metabolomics, and phenotype data.
OTHER NMDC nmdc:sty-11-ev70y104
Phenotype and Raw Data Collection
Plant phenotypes, sterility tests, metabolite identifications, and in vitro assay data from all five laboratories.
PHENOTYPE FIGSHARE doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7373842
Bacterial Genome Annotations
Annotated whole genome sequences for all 17 SynCom bacterial isolates, searchable by isolate name or GOLD Project ID.
GENOME JGI_IMG Gp0588949-Gp0589682

Environmental Factors

Factor Value Unit
Nitrogen Source NH4NO3 mM
  • doi:10.1126/sciadv.adg7888 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "the three inorganic nitrogen forms caused differential exudation, generalized by abundant amino acids-peptides and alkaloids"
Light Regime 16h/8h light/dark N/A
Growth Medium 0.5x Murashige-Skoog N/A