Microbiomes of ten diverse soil protists

Rhizosphere protists play a critical role in shaping the microbiome, and understanding their interactions with their associated bacteria may play roles in plant health. This study investigates the bacterial communities of ten maize rhizosphere protists, revealing distinct bacterial assemblages for each. Over half the identified bacteria via metagenomic or culture methods represent novel species. Genomic analyses revealed enrichment for genes associated with functions potentially beneficial to plant growth, including phytohormone production, phosphate solubilization, and antibiosis. This study demonstrates a high degree of bacterial diversity associated with rhizosphere protists, which could be beneficial for plants.