Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Using Single-Worm Data to Quantify Heterogeneity in Caenorhabditis elegans-Bacterial Interactions
Published on: July 22, 2022
Heterogeneity in Bacterial Specialized Metabolism
Nicholas J Tobias1, Helge B Bode2
1Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Abstract:
Specialized metabolites (SMs) like typical antibiotics, signaling molecules or other bioactive compounds of bacterial origin (sometimes also used in human therapy) are often complex natural products that are costly for the cell to make. Several bacterial taxa are known to produce multiple SM classes in parallel and therefore a division of labor within a clonal population of bacteria might be beneficial. In this review, examples of SM of gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial taxa that are produced by different cell types are presented, and the possibility that such a heterogeneity is more widespread in SM biosynthesis is discussed. In addition, tools to study SM production at the single cell level are presented.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Special Staining Techniques
What is Metabolism?
Introduction to Special Senses
Specialized Characteristics of Cardiac Muscles
Cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscles, averaging 10–20 mm in diameter and 50–100 mm in length. However, they have large energy demands for continuous contraction and relaxation. This energy is almost exclusively derived from aerobic metabolism of energy...
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...

