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Live-Cell Imaging of the Life Cycle of Bacterial Predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus using Time-Lapse Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: May 8, 2020
Predatory Bacteriovorax communities ordered by various prey species
Huan Chen1, Shanterial Young, Timkhite-Kulu Berhane
1School of the Environment, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America.
Plos One
|March 31, 2012
Summary
Bacterial predators called Bacteriovorax show distinct phylotype preferences based on their prey. Freshwater bacteria consistently selected for Cluster IV, while saltwater prey favored Bacteriovorax phylotype IX.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Bacteriology
- Predator-Prey Dynamics
Background:
- Predation significantly shapes microbial communities, yet bacterial predator dynamics remain understudied.
- Bacteriovorax, halophilic prokaryotes, prey on gram-negative bacteria, influencing aquatic microbial ecosystems.
- Previous research indicated differential selection of Bacteriovorax phylotypes by specific Vibrio prey.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of diverse prey types on the composition of native Bacteriovorax communities.
- To determine if freshwater and saltwater prey elicit distinct responses in Bacteriovorax populations.
- To expand understanding of factors governing Bacteriovorax community structure in aquatic environments.
Main Methods:
- Microcosms were established using water samples from Apalachicola Bay, spiked with eight different bacterial prey species (freshwater and saltwater).
- Bacteriovorax abundance and community composition were monitored over five days using optical density measurements and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).
- Predominant Bacteriovorax phylotypes were identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing of plaque isolates.
Main Results:
- Freshwater prey (Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida) consistently induced the proliferation of Bacteriovorax Cluster IV.
- Saltwater prey (Vibrio sp., Pseudoalteromonas sp., Photobacterium sp., V. vulnificus) predominantly selected for Bacteriovorax phylotype IX subgroups.
- Prey type was identified as a significant factor influencing Bacteriovorax community structure, alongside environmental parameters like temperature and salinity.
Conclusions:
- Prey identity plays a crucial role in shaping the diversity and abundance of Bacteriovorax communities in aquatic systems.
- Distinct Bacteriovorax phylotypes are favored by different types of bacterial prey, indicating specialized predator-prey interactions.
- Understanding these interactions is vital for comprehending microbial community dynamics in diverse aquatic environments.
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