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The cell organization underlying structural colour is involved in Flavobacterium IR1 predation
Raditijo Hamidjaja1, Jérémie Capoulade2, Laura Catón1,3
1Hoekmine BV, Utrecht, 3548 CH, The Netherlands.
The ISME Journal
|September 3, 2020
Summary
Flavobacterium IR1 uses its organized colonial structure, which creates color, to prey on other bacteria like Enterobacter cloacae B12. This structural organization aids in bacterial predation, not just light properties.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Ecology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Flavobacterium IR1 exhibits colonial organization as a 2D photonic crystal, producing structural coloration.
- Enterobacter cloacae B12 was isolated from Fucus vesiculosus in the same environment as IR1.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predatory relationship between Flavobacterium IR1 and Enterobacter cloacae B12.
- To determine the role of Flavobacterium IR1's photonic crystal organization in its predatory behavior.
Main Methods:
- Observing the interaction between Flavobacterium IR1 and Enterobacter cloacae B12.
- Analyzing the engulfment process involving motility and capillarity.
- Comparing predation efficiency of wild-type IR1 and its mutants with altered photonic crystal formation.
- Assessing IR1's resistance to predation by Rhodococcus spp. PIR4.
Main Results:
- Flavobacterium IR1 actively preys on Enterobacter cloacae B12 through surrounding, infiltration, and engulfment.
- Predation relies on motility and capillarity and is independent of illumination.
- Mutants with impaired photonic crystal formation showed reduced predatory capabilities.
- Photonic crystal formation did not confer resistance against predation by Rhodococcus spp. PIR4.
Conclusions:
- The colonial organization of Flavobacterium IR1, forming a photonic crystal, serves a biological function in facilitating bacterial predation.
- This function is linked to the structural organization itself, rather than the photonic properties of the colony.
- Provides the first experimental evidence for a role of this cell organization in Flavobacteriia predation.
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