Relative dispersion ratios following fecal microbiota transplant elucidate principles governing microbial migration dynamics

Yadid M. Algavi, Elhanan Borenstein*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Microorganisms frequently migrate from one ecosystem to another. Yet, despite the potential importance of this process in modulating the environment and the microbial ecosystem, our understanding of the fundamental forces that govern microbial dispersion is still lacking. Moreover, while theoretical models and in-vitro experiments have highlighted the contribution of species interactions to community assembly, identifying such interactions in vivo, specifically in communities as complex as the human gut, remains challenging. To address this gap, here we introduce a robust and rigorous computational framework, termed Relative Dispersion Ratio (RDR) analysis, and leverage data from well-characterized fecal microbiota transplant trials, to rigorously pinpoint dependencies between taxa during the colonization of human gastrointestinal tract. Our analysis identifies numerous pairwise dependencies between co-colonizing microbes during migration between gastrointestinal environments. We further demonstrate that identified dependencies agree with previously reported findings from in-vitro experiments and population-wide distribution patterns. Finally, we explore metabolic dependencies between these taxa and characterize the functional properties that facilitate effective dispersion. Collectively, our findings provide insights into the principles and determinants of community dynamics following ecological translocation, informing potential opportunities for precise community design.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4447
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

Funding

FundersFunder number
Tel Aviv University
National Institutes of HealthU19AG057377
National Institutes of Health
Israel Science Foundation2435/19
Israel Science Foundation

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