Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Coincubation Assay for Quantifying Competitive Interactions between Vibrio fischeri Isolates
Published on: July 22, 2019
Evolution of Bacterial "Frenemies"
Sophie E Darch1, Carolyn B Ibberson1, Marvin Whiteley2
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
Abstract:
Chronic polymicrobial infections are associated with increased virulence compared to monospecies infections. However, our understanding of microbial dynamics during polymicrobial infection is limited. A recent study by Limoli and colleagues (D. H. Limoli, G. B. Whitfield, T. Kitao, M. L. Ivey, M. R. Davis, Jr., et al., mBio 8:e00186-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00186-17) provides insight into a mechanism that may contribute to the coexistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. CF lung infections have frequently been used to investigate microbial interactions due to both the complex polymicrobial community and chronic nature of these infections. The hypothesis of Limoli et al. is that the conversion of P. aeruginosa to its mucoidy phenotype during chronic CF infection promotes coexistence by diminishing its ability to kill S. aureus Highlighting a new facet of microbial interaction between two species that are traditionally thought of as competitors, this study provides a platform for studying community assembly in a relevant infection setting.
Related Concept Videos
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria
Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes
Genomic Diversity in Bacteria
Although bacterial genomes are much...
Other Unique Bacteria
Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

