Rudolf Schlechter

Coexistence ecology of pathogen-inhibiting microbes in the phytobiome Certain microbes have considerable potential as biocontrol agents against various pathogens, but they coexist with other microbial species in complex networks of interactions that influence their function in a host-dependent manner. These interactions and underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this review we focus on Pseudomonas, a versatile genus of bacteria with adaptable physiological and metabolic traits, functioning as both symbionts and pathogens. We review the direct antagonism pathways Pseudomonas uses to inhibit different pathotypes and its role in indirectly inducing systemic defense responses in plants. We provide insights into bacterial coexistence and interactions in host plant–microbe and microbe–microbe relationships, considering pairwise and community dynamics. Understanding these interactions will help optimize synthetic communities and improve practices for sustainable agriculture.

Coexistence ecology of pathogen-inhibiting microbes in the phytobiome #plantscience

Happy pride

🚨 Open position
We are hiring a PhD student to investigate the ecology and genomics of phyllosphere yeasts combining lab experiments with computational approaches. Joins us at @niooknaw.bsky.social in collaboration with @micropresearch.bsky.social @cmelkonian.bsky.social @marnixmedema.bsky.social

Seed-borne bacteria drive wheat rhizosphere microbiome assembly via niche partitioning and facilitation Nature Microbiology - A sequential propagation strategy shows how the microbes initially on seeds are key to building complex, reproducible and heritable plant microbiomes.

the RhizCom, I see what you did there. Very cool work! rdcu.be/ekZ4Z

Pseudomonas syringae subpopulations cooperate by coordinating flagellar and type III secretion spatiotemporal dynamics to facilitate plant infection Nature Microbiology - Single-cell gene expression analysis reveals phenotypic heterogeneity to enable bacterial specialization over the course of plant colonization.

How Bacteria Outsmart Plants—Then Flee the Scene!

#MicroSky #PlantScience #Pseudomonas

Our new research in Nature Microbiology uncovers the sophisticated teamwork of Pseudomonas syringae, a notorious plant pathogen.

🔗 rdcu.be/egczU

The alkane 1-monooxigenase gene alkB of Pseudomonas sp. FF2 is upregulated during colonisation of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves Bacteria on leaf surfaces encounter highly variable access to nutrients and water. This oligotrophic environment is partly due to the presence of cuticular waxes that render the leaf surface hydrophob...

🦠 New preprint! 🌿 Our bioreporter shows heterogeneous alkB expression in Pseudomonas living on Arabidopsis leaves.
Plant cuticular alkanes may be more than just a barrier, they could also be fuel for bacteria! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Thanks for your concern and happy for suggestions. This energy could probably do more good aimed at the microplastic pollution from the fast fashion industry or industrial meat production, but sure… microscale home fermentation is clearly the bigger issue here. Appreciate the priorities! 🫶

“That” 💀

Advertisement email for a modern stair-climbing aid. The email features a large image of an elderly woman using a stair-climbing assist device attached to a staircase railing

Excuse me I got this email??

Very cool work, congrats!

Gut microbiome signatures of vegan, vegetarian and omnivore diets and associated health outcomes across 21,561 individuals Nature Microbiology - Using 21,561 individuals, the authors present a cross-sectional study of how gut microbiome signatures are associated with dietary intake patterns and with host health outcomes.

🥦🫛🥑🥕
rdcu.be/d5WOh

Differential Responses of Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas Species to Multispecies Interactions in the Phyllosphere Leaf-associated bacterial populations of Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas in two- and three-member synthetic communities on Arabidopsis thaliana display distinct spatial structures and population dy....

It’s finally out! The last paper from my PhD!

enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New year, new paper! Now published in @nature.com. We identified and characterised diverse immune cell states in plants under pathogen attack. My postdoc work in the Ecker lab at @salkinstitute.bsky.social. A thread (0/n)
#PlantScience
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Vacuum sealed bags with blueberries for lacto-fermentation

why waiting until Monday for a little microbiology experiment

A new anti phage defence system
www.nature.com/articles/s41... very cool!

Quote reskeet with a photo of your pet when you first got them and now.

Vanjie in 2019 vs 2024 🥹

Me: I should focus on fewer projects

Also me: submits a new grant with @paniaguavoirol.bsky.social about caterpillars and plant microbes! 🌱 🦠 🐛

I will on Freitag, after she ATE

SO IF YOU CARE FIND ME… don’t. I’m writing a grant 🧹

our sourdough starter is called Doughchii

😔

‘tis the season of reviewers #2

Groundbreaking

not another rejection this week 😅

of course we got snarky comments from reviewer 2

Exciting! Looking forward to it 🌱🦠👀

grant rejected -1
paper accepted +1
carbon-neutral

paper accepted!! 🎉📊 🦠 stay tuned!

wdym I’m being supportive of your seminar attendance journey

Subtilase SBT5.2 inactivates flagellin immunogenicity in the plant apoplast - Nature Communications Plants recognize bacteria by perceiving a 22-residue epitope in flagellin. Plant-secreted SBT5.2 subtilases are found to inactivate this epitope, leading to elicitor removal and reducing costly immuni...

Subtilase SBT5.2 inactivates flagellin immunogenicity in the plant apoplast www.nature.com/articles/s41...