James McDonald
@jamesemcdonald.bsky.social
Prof. of microbial ecology at the University of Birmingham.
Decoding the tree microbiome 🌳🌲. He/him
Decoding the tree microbiome 🌳🌲. He/him
10/ Our work shows the potential of microbiome-based interventions for trees, just like those emerging in agriculture and human health. 🌍
November 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
10/ Our work shows the potential of microbiome-based interventions for trees, just like those emerging in agriculture and human health. 🌍
9/ This shows that tree microbiomes can be engineered to suppress disease — a promising strategy for forest health and conservation. 🌲🛡️
November 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
9/ This shows that tree microbiomes can be engineered to suppress disease — a promising strategy for forest health and conservation. 🌲🛡️
8/ We then inoculated oak seedlings and logs with a disease-suppressive SynCom before pathogen challenge. The results were striking:
📉 Brenneria goodwinii (oak pathogen) ↓ 56% (seedlings), ↓ 71% (logs)
📉 Gibbsiella quercinecans (oak pathogen) ↓ 87% (seedlings), ↓ 95% (logs)
📉 Brenneria goodwinii (oak pathogen) ↓ 56% (seedlings), ↓ 71% (logs)
📉 Gibbsiella quercinecans (oak pathogen) ↓ 87% (seedlings), ↓ 95% (logs)
November 19, 2025 at 3:13 PM
8/ We then inoculated oak seedlings and logs with a disease-suppressive SynCom before pathogen challenge. The results were striking:
📉 Brenneria goodwinii (oak pathogen) ↓ 56% (seedlings), ↓ 71% (logs)
📉 Gibbsiella quercinecans (oak pathogen) ↓ 87% (seedlings), ↓ 95% (logs)
📉 Brenneria goodwinii (oak pathogen) ↓ 56% (seedlings), ↓ 71% (logs)
📉 Gibbsiella quercinecans (oak pathogen) ↓ 87% (seedlings), ↓ 95% (logs)
7/ Next, we assembled synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) from these isolates. In vitro tests showed they could suppress oak pathogens. 🧪
November 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM
7/ Next, we assembled synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) from these isolates. In vitro tests showed they could suppress oak pathogens. 🧪
6/ We screened 22,000 isolates on agar plates for their ability to suppress oak pathogens linked to Acute Oak Decline - 341 of the isolates showed strong pathogen suppression. 💪🌱
November 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM
6/ We screened 22,000 isolates on agar plates for their ability to suppress oak pathogens linked to Acute Oak Decline - 341 of the isolates showed strong pathogen suppression. 💪🌱
5/ These isolates belonged to taxonomic groups that represented 61% of the total bacterial and 87% of total fungal sequences found in oak trees, based on 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing, respectively. A major resource for tree microbiome research! 🌳🦠
November 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
5/ These isolates belonged to taxonomic groups that represented 61% of the total bacterial and 87% of total fungal sequences found in oak trees, based on 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing, respectively. A major resource for tree microbiome research! 🌳🦠
4/ We processed tree tissue samples for isolation in the field within a few hours of collection to maximise chances of culturing key microbiota, using our mobile lab setup.
November 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
4/ We processed tree tissue samples for isolation in the field within a few hours of collection to maximise chances of culturing key microbiota, using our mobile lab setup.
3/ We built a culture collection of >30,000 bacterial and fungal isolates from 150 oak trees across 30 sites in Britain — the largest culture collections of its kind🌿
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
3/ We built a culture collection of >30,000 bacterial and fungal isolates from 150 oak trees across 30 sites in Britain — the largest culture collections of its kind🌿
2/ Trees rely on their microbiome for health and resilience, but are increasingly impacted by disease. We asked ‘can we engineer these microbial communities to fight disease?’ 🌳🦠.
November 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
2/ Trees rely on their microbiome for health and resilience, but are increasingly impacted by disease. We asked ‘can we engineer these microbial communities to fight disease?’ 🌳🦠.
2/ Trees rely on their microbiome for health and resilience, but are increasingly impacted by disease. We asked ‘can we engineer these microbial communities to fight disease?’ 🌳🦠.
November 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
2/ Trees rely on their microbiome for health and resilience, but are increasingly impacted by disease. We asked ‘can we engineer these microbial communities to fight disease?’ 🌳🦠.
Had a great week at #PSM2025 - excellent science, great organisation, and super friendly people. Really enjoyed presenting our work on the oak microbiome and leaving here with lots of ideas for future work and collaborations. Thanks @vcarryon.bsky.social & team for organising @microsos.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Had a great week at #PSM2025 - excellent science, great organisation, and super friendly people. Really enjoyed presenting our work on the oak microbiome and leaving here with lots of ideas for future work and collaborations. Thanks @vcarryon.bsky.social & team for organising @microsos.bsky.social
A pause on the live posts from @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social as he is on stage giving the next presentation at #PSM2025 on single species and community living of Bacillus on plants @microsos.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A pause on the live posts from @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social as he is on stage giving the next presentation at #PSM2025 on single species and community living of Bacillus on plants @microsos.bsky.social
@vcarryon.bsky.social opening #PSM2025
November 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
@vcarryon.bsky.social opening #PSM2025
Great to be at #PMS2025 in Malaga. Looking forward to 5 days of science and giving a presentation on our group’s work on Thursday (session 4)
November 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Great to be at #PMS2025 in Malaga. Looking forward to 5 days of science and giving a presentation on our group’s work on Thursday (session 4)
And thanks to the team members for delivering this huge project! @cenococcum.bsky.social @alejandra1909.bsky.social @marccamb.bsky.social
August 16, 2025 at 6:56 AM
And thanks to the team members for delivering this huge project! @cenococcum.bsky.social @alejandra1909.bsky.social @marccamb.bsky.social
🌳 Trees are not alone. Their microbial partners matter!
📄Feedback and comments welcome!
🔬Huge thanks to our funders! BBSRC, NERC, DEFRA and Scottish Government
📄Feedback and comments welcome!
🔬Huge thanks to our funders! BBSRC, NERC, DEFRA and Scottish Government
August 16, 2025 at 6:54 AM
🌳 Trees are not alone. Their microbial partners matter!
📄Feedback and comments welcome!
🔬Huge thanks to our funders! BBSRC, NERC, DEFRA and Scottish Government
📄Feedback and comments welcome!
🔬Huge thanks to our funders! BBSRC, NERC, DEFRA and Scottish Government
Understanding how tree microbiomes respond to environmental change and disease is key to predicting future impacts—and to developing microbiome-based strategies for tree health and resilience.
August 16, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Understanding how tree microbiomes respond to environmental change and disease is key to predicting future impacts—and to developing microbiome-based strategies for tree health and resilience.
We also looked at trees with Acute Oak Decline (AOD)—a complex disease driven by abiotic and biotic stressors. The stem microbiome was most affected, showing reduced species richness and altered function.
August 16, 2025 at 6:52 AM
We also looked at trees with Acute Oak Decline (AOD)—a complex disease driven by abiotic and biotic stressors. The stem microbiome was most affected, showing reduced species richness and altered function.
We assembled 1657 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from oak-associated bacteria, archaea, and fungi. This is a major resource for future tree microbiome research 🌱🧬
August 16, 2025 at 6:51 AM
We assembled 1657 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from oak-associated bacteria, archaea, and fungi. This is a major resource for future tree microbiome research 🌱🧬
Each oak tissue type had a distinct microbiome—both taxonomically and functionally. Environmental factors like temperature, humidity, rainfall, and ion deposition had tissue-specific effects on microbial composition and function.
August 16, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Each oak tissue type had a distinct microbiome—both taxonomically and functionally. Environmental factors like temperature, humidity, rainfall, and ion deposition had tissue-specific effects on microbial composition and function.
We profiled oak leaf, stem, and root/rhizosphere microbiomes using 16S rRNA gene and ITS profiling, and shotgun metagenomics across a landscape. Then we built a 3-level occupancy model to understand microbial distribution.
August 16, 2025 at 6:50 AM
We profiled oak leaf, stem, and root/rhizosphere microbiomes using 16S rRNA gene and ITS profiling, and shotgun metagenomics across a landscape. Then we built a 3-level occupancy model to understand microbial distribution.
Microbiomes - communities of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and archaea - play key roles in tree health, resilience, and disease suppression. But we still know little about how these communities vary across tissues and landscapes.
August 16, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Microbiomes - communities of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and archaea - play key roles in tree health, resilience, and disease suppression. But we still know little about how these communities vary across tissues and landscapes.
We explored how climate and disease shape microbial communities living in oak trees across a landscape. Here's what we found 👇
August 16, 2025 at 6:49 AM
We explored how climate and disease shape microbial communities living in oak trees across a landscape. Here's what we found 👇
Had a great day out with the team at Black County Museum yesterday. Lucky to work with such a great group of scientists and people 🌞🍦 @g-thomas.bsky.social @alejandra1909.bsky.social @sophie-e-powell.bsky.social @alexanderwoodley.bsky.social @marccamb.bsky.social @bpettifor.bsky.social
August 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Had a great day out with the team at Black County Museum yesterday. Lucky to work with such a great group of scientists and people 🌞🍦 @g-thomas.bsky.social @alejandra1909.bsky.social @sophie-e-powell.bsky.social @alexanderwoodley.bsky.social @marccamb.bsky.social @bpettifor.bsky.social
Wonderful day @bangoruniversity.bsky.social Huge congratulations to Dr. @alejandra1909.bsky.social for passing her viva with minor corrections. Thanks to Carrie Brady and @mojganrabiey.bsky.social for examining and George Turner for chairing. Look out for some cool papers in the near future!
July 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Wonderful day @bangoruniversity.bsky.social Huge congratulations to Dr. @alejandra1909.bsky.social for passing her viva with minor corrections. Thanks to Carrie Brady and @mojganrabiey.bsky.social for examining and George Turner for chairing. Look out for some cool papers in the near future!