Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Osmotrophy.

Thomas A Richards1, Nicholas J Talbot1

  • 1Biosciences, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.

Current Biology : CB
|October 24, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Osmotrophs overcome challenges with large food particles or no stomach by utilizing external digestion. This process allows them to absorb nutrients directly from their environment.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Siderophore production by the lichen fungus Xanthoria parietina supports its algal symbiont.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Molecular mimicry of a pathogen virulence target by a plant immune receptor.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Synchronous spatiotemporal control of autophagy and organelle trafficking is necessary for infection by Magnaporthe oryzae.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Signatures of gene transfer in the parallel evolution of osmotrophic specialization in eukaryotes.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Same author

Pathogenicity and virulence of the blast fungus <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i>.

Virulence·2026
Same author

Single-cell sequencing reveals unexpected genetic diversity among <i>Bodo</i> spp. flagellates and their bacterial endosymbionts.

Microbial genomics·2026
Same journal

Hunting ecology predicts eye arrangements in the modular visual system of spiders.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Sub-second fluctuations between top-down and bottom-up modes distinguish diverse human brain states.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Queen bees offload pesticide burden to eggs when social buffering is overwhelmed.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Pitch selectivity in ferret auditory cortex.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

A cell size-dependent competition between geometry and polarity governs nuclear and spindle positioning in early embryos.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • * Cellular Biology
  • * Ecology
  • * Biochemistry

Background:

  • * Organisms face challenges in nutrient acquisition, especially when food is too large to ingest or when digestive systems are absent.
  • * Osmotrophy is a feeding strategy where nutrients are absorbed directly across the cell surface.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To explain the mechanisms osmotrophs use for external digestion and nutrient absorption.
  • * To highlight the ecological and evolutionary significance of osmotrophy.

Main Methods:

  • * Review of existing literature on osmotrophy and external digestion.
  • * Analysis of case studies illustrating osmotrophic feeding strategies.

Main Results:

  • * Osmotrophs secrete extracellular enzymes to break down complex food sources externally.

Related Experiment Videos

  • * Absorbed nutrients are then transported across the cell membrane for metabolic use.
  • * This strategy is prevalent in microorganisms, fungi, and some protists.

    • Conclusions:

    • * External digestion is a versatile adaptation enabling osmotrophs to thrive in diverse environments.
    • * Osmotrophy plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning.