Limits to the evolution of metabolic dependency in spatially structured microbial communities

iScience 2026 Open access

Read full text
Authors: Devika Ramesh, Emanuele Fara, Franziska Oschmann, Giovanni Stefano Ugolini, Roman Stocker, Simon van Vliet, Martin Ackermann, Olga T. Schubert
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114912
Cited by: 6
References: 53

Abstract

populations. We found that without external amino acids, auxotroph growth is strongly constrained by low amino acid leakage from wildtype neighbors, and further reduced when they form local clusters that drain this limited amino acid pool. A growth advantage was only observed when amino acids were added or when leakage from wildtypes exceeded a threshold. Together, our results reveal insights into determinants of mutant invasion fitness and the trade-offs between reducing metabolic costs and maintaining metabolic autonomy.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology Origins and Evolution of Life

Publication details

Journal / source
iScience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
29
Issue
3
Pages
114912–114912
Publication date
5 February 2026
Language
EN