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Global copper response of the soil bacterial predator Myxococcus xanthus and its contribution to antibiotic cross-resistance.

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Milestones in the development of <i>Myxococcus xanthus</i> as a model multicellular bacterium.

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Transcriptomic response of <i>Sinorhizobium meliloti</i> to the predatory attack of <i>Myxococcus xanthus</i>.

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Development versus predation: Transcriptomic changes during the lifecycle of Myxococcus xanthus.

Juana Pérez1, Francisco Javier Contreras-Moreno1, José Muñoz-Dorado1

  • 1Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.

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Summary

Myxococcus xanthus, a soil bacterium, alters gene expression to hunt and consume prey like Sinorhizobium meliloti. This predatory response involves activating specific genes while downregulating others, offering a new view of its lifecycle.

Keywords:
Myxococcus xanthusSinorhizobacterium melilotibacterial predationdevelopmentpredatosometranscriptome

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Ecology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Myxococcus xanthus is a soil-dwelling bacterium known for its complex lifecycle and predatory behavior.
  • It employs a collaborative epibiotic strategy to prey on other microorganisms.
  • Under nutrient deprivation, it initiates a developmental program involving extensive gene regulation to form resistant myxospores.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the transcriptomic changes in Myxococcus xanthus when it encounters and preys upon Sinorhizobium meliloti.
  • To understand the 'predatosome' – the set of genes activated during predation.
  • To compare the predatory transcriptome with the developmental transcriptome.

Main Methods:

  • Transcriptomic analysis of Myxococcus xanthus during predation on Sinorhizobium meliloti.
  • Gene expression profiling to identify upregulated and downregulated genes.
  • Comparative analysis with existing developmental transcriptome data.

Main Results:

  • Upregulation of genes involved in prey detection, killing, lysis, and consumption.
  • Increased expression of genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes and secondary metabolite biosynthesis.
  • Modification of lipid composition and overproduction of siderophores for iron uptake.
  • Downregulation of numerous regulatory genes, many crucial for development.

Conclusions:

  • Myxococcus xanthus exhibits a distinct transcriptional program for predation, distinct from its developmental program.
  • The study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic view of the predatory lifecycle of M. xanthus.
  • This research sheds light on the sophisticated regulatory mechanisms governing bacterial predation and development.