Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025
08:19
Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
3.8K
Phage tail-like nanostructures affect microbial interactions between Streptomyces and fungi
Toshiki Nagakubo1, Tatsuya Yamamoto2, Shumpei Asamizu3,4
1Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. nagakubo@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Scientific Reports
|October 12, 2021
Summary
Streptomyces phage tail-like particles (SLPs) are nanomachine components involved in microbial competition. SLP expression varies based on bacterial or fungal competitors, impacting Streptomyces interactions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial genetics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs) are conserved bacterial nanomachines.
- Streptomyces species produce phage tail-like particles (SLPs) from eCIS-related genes.
- These genes are regulated by key genes essential for Streptomyces development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of eCIS-related genes and SLPs in Streptomyces life cycle.
- To determine the impact of SLPs on microbial competition in Streptomyces species.
Main Methods:
- Genetic deletion of eCIS-related genes in Streptomyces lividans.
- Co-culture experiments with fungi (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe) and bacteria (Bacillus subtilis).
- Microscopic and transcriptional analyses to assess SLP expression.
Main Results:
- SLP-deficient mutants showed increased susceptibility to fungal invasion.
- SLP expression increased during co-culture with fungi.
- SLP expression decreased, and antibiotic production increased during co-culture with Bacillus subtilis.
Conclusions:
- eCIS-related genes and SLPs play a significant role in microbial competition for Streptomyces.
- SLP expression is dynamically regulated in response to different microbial competitors.
- SLPs modulate interactions between Streptomyces, fungi, and other bacteria.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
141
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
141
01:26DNA Bacteriophages
268
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
268
01:30Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages
73.2K
Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
73.2K
01:30Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
194
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
194
01:28Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments
629
Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
629
01:26Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes
157
Planctomycetes are a group of morphologically distinct bacteria predominantly classified into two orders: Planctomycetales and Brocadiales. These gram-negative bacteria exhibit unique features, including division by budding and the presence of stalks or appendages. Their cells are often found in rosette arrangements, and they are notable for possessing an S-layer in their cell envelope, which is relatively uncommon among bacteria. Additionally, Planctomycetes frequently exhibit intracellular...
157