Microbes have proven to be incredibly useful tools and production factories for applications ranging from sustainable agriculture to industrial biotechnology. Critical for their use in all of these applications, however, is a thorough understanding of how the microbes interact with their environment. A recent study published in MicrobiologyOpen entitled “Biochemical Characterization and Genome Analysis of Pseudomonas loganensis sp. nov., a Novel Endophytic Bacterium” provides a nice example of that. In this work, the researchers showcase how Biolog’s Odin™ platform, paired with the GEN III MicroPlate, and Phenotype MicroArray™ plates enabled the characterization of a novel bacterial species: Pseudomas loganensis sp. nov. This discovery not only expands the catalog of known Pseudomonas species, but also highlights the importance of using these tools to link phenotypic insights to genomic information.
Phenotypic Fingerprinting with Odin
The collaborators, based in Turkey and at the University of Utah, set out to characterize a new endophytic bacterium isolated from the leaves of a yew tree in Logan, Utah (Taxus chinensis). To characterize it, they turned to Biolog’s Phenotype MicroArray technology, using the Odin platform to profile metabolic activity against 95 different pre-selected carbon and nitrogen sources.
Odin’s incubation capabilities and automated reads allows for the collection of real-time kinetic data for days; in this case reads were taken every 20 minutes for 48 hours. This high-resolution dataset revealed that P. loganensis could metabolize a broad spectrum of substrates, including L-malic acid, thymidine, ribose, glucose-6-phosphate, trehalose, and maltose. Such versatility suggests that this bacterium is well-adapted to thrive in diverse environments, which can be particularly helpful for bioprocessing of different types of waste.
Where Genotype meets Phenotype
What makes Odin particularly powerful is its ability to validate and complement genomic predictions in a high-throughput fashion with high resolution. In this study, genome sequencing identified transporter and metabolic genes for sugars, nucleosides, and dipeptides. The assays performed on Odin confirmed that these substrates were indeed utilized, showing a strong correlation between genetic potential and functional activity. For instance, genes for trehalose metabolism aligned with phenotypic results demonstrating trehalose as one of the most effective carbon sources.
Applications and Broader Impact
Why does this matter for scientists and the field of industrial biotechnology? The metabolic flexibility uncovered by Odin points to promising biotechnological applications for this particular organism. In addition to its potential ability to “valorize different types of wastes, particularly pre-treated ones”, as the authors point out, its broad carbon source utilization profile also makes it a potential candidate for plant growth promotion in saline or stressed soils, an area of growing interest in sustainable agriculture.
Key Takeaways
This study demonstrates how Odin empowers microbiologists to go beyond sequencing, providing the real-time, high throughput phenotypic data needed to unlock microbial potential. Furthermore, Odin software delivers results that are publication-ready. By integrating phenotypic data with genomic analysis, researchers were able to confidently identify a novel species with potential applications in agriculture and biotechnology.
For labs focused on microbial discovery, environmental microbiology, or industrial bioprocessing, Odin and Biolog’s array of phenotype characterization microplates offers a proven solution for connecting genotype to phenotype – turning data into discovery.
How Can Biolog Help You?
If you’re ready to apply phenotypic characterization with Odin to your microbes, but you need help getting started, or you need to generate a proof-of-concept dataset first, our Biolog Lab Services team can help by running your samples on Odin. Reach out for more information or to get started!
