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Scanning electron microscopy of hyphal ectobiont bacteria within mycelial extracellular matrices

Summary

Researchers studied how bacteria attach to fungal filaments using advanced microscopy. They developed a special preparation method that removed outer biofilm layers to reveal how bacteria stick to fungal structures. The study found that bacteria form attachment structures with the fungal surface, with these structures being primarily produced by the fungus. This research helps us understand how bacteria and fungi interact in nature and in biotechnology.

Background

Fungi and bacteria form complex interactions in various environments including soil, clinical settings, and biotechnological applications. Understanding physical attachment of bacterial ectobionts to fungal hyphae is important for comprehending these interactions and their effects on host physiology.

Objective

To investigate the morphological features of bacterial ectobionts (Bacillus subtilis) attached to fungal hyphae (Hericium erinaceus) within mycelial biofilm matrices using scanning electron microscopy and quantify attachment structures.

Results

Mean bacterial length was 1.4 μm ± 0.4 μm and width was 0.5 μm ± 0.1 μm. Mean hyphal width in cocultures was 3 μm ± 0.5 μm. Mean biofilm area was 3.90 μm² ± 0.72 μm² with 18.33% ± 5.52% coverage. Mean attachment structure length was 0.3 μm ± 0.1 μm, with structures appearing to originate primarily from fungal EPS.

Conclusion

The dehydration protocol successfully revealed nanoscale bacterial attachment structures to fungal hyphae, confirming ectobiont status and providing biophysical evidence for contact-dependent modulation. This method enables investigation of physical bacterial-fungal interactions without fluorescent markers and provides a foundation for studying effects on fungal electrophysiology.
  • Published in:Biophys Rep (N Y),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40945792, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2025.100233
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