Nutrient scavenging activity and antagonistic factors of non-photobiont lichen-associated bacteria: a review

Lichens are defined as the specific symbiotic structure comprising a fungus and a green alga and/or cyanobacterium. Up until recently, non-photobiont endothallic bacteria, while known to be present in large numbers, have generally been dismissed as functionally irrelevant cohabitants of the lichen t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 2016-04, Vol.32 (4), p.68-11, Article 68
Main Authors: Auður Sigurbjörnsdóttir, M, Andrésson, Ólafur S, Vilhelmsson, Oddur
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aliphatic compounds
Amylase
Analysis
Anti-Infective Agents - metabolism
antifungal properties
Antimicrobial agents
Applied Microbiology
aromatic compounds
Bacteria
bacteriome
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biosynthesis
Biotechnology
Chlorophycota
coculture
Contaminants
Cyanobacteria
ecophysiology
Ecosystems
endo-1,4-beta-glucanase
Environmental conditions
Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology
Foreign exchange rates
fungi
Host-Pathogen Interactions
iron
Lichens
Lichens - microbiology
Life Sciences
Metagenome
metagenomics
Microbiology
Microorganisms
Nitrates
Nitrogen
Nitrogen Fixation
Nutrients
Organisms
oxidation
Phosphates
Phosphorus
pollution
Proteobacteria
Proteobacteria - physiology
Review
Scavenging
Studies
Symbiosis
thallus
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
Volatile Organic Compounds - metabolism
xylanases
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Description
Summary:Lichens are defined as the specific symbiotic structure comprising a fungus and a green alga and/or cyanobacterium. Up until recently, non-photobiont endothallic bacteria, while known to be present in large numbers, have generally been dismissed as functionally irrelevant cohabitants of the lichen thallus, or even environmental contaminants. Recent analyses of lichen metagenomes and innovative co-culture experiments have uncovered a functionally complex community that appears to contribute to a healthy lichen thallus in several ways. Lichen-associated bacteriomes are typically dominated by several lineages of Proteobacteria, some of which may be specific for lichen species. Recent work has implicated members of these lineages in several important ecophysiological roles. These include nutrient scavenging, including mobilization of iron and phosphate, nitrogen fixation, cellulase, xylanase and amylase activities, and oxidation of recalcitrant compounds, e.g. aromatics and aliphatics. Production of volatile organic compounds, conferring antibacterial and antifungal activity, has also been demonstrated for several lichen-associated isolates. In the present paper we review the nature of non-phototrophic endolichenic bacteria associated with lichens, and give insight into the current state of knowledge on their importance the lichen symbiotic association.
ISSN:0959-3993
1573-0972
DOI:10.1007/s11274-016-2019-2