Developing Lotka-Volterra Based Models to Describe Bdellovibrio Predation in a Batch and Chemostat Experimental...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Mathematical Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.
• Bdellovibrio predatory bacteria offer a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics.
• Lack of validated models hinders the application of Bdellovibrio.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate mathematical models for Bdellovibrio bacterivorous predation.
• To quantify Bdellovibrio and prey growth dynamics using high-throughput methods.
• To identify conditions for sustained predator-prey oscillations for biocontrol.

Main Methods:

• Utilized flow cytometry for high-throughput quantification of bacterial growth.
• Developed Lotka-Volterra predator-prey models with Holling type II and III dynamics.
• Conducted experiments in batch and chemostat cultures to validate models.

Main Results:

• Flow cytometry accurately quantified growth parameters for Bdellovibrio and Pseudomonas sp.
• Holling type III dynamics accurately described Bdellovibrio predation in batch cultures.
• Chemostat simulations identified parameter regimes for washout, coexistence, and oscillations, with experimental validation of sustained oscillations.

Conclusions:

• Mathematical modeling combined with experimental validation provides a quantitative foundation for optimizing Bdellovibrio applications.
• Sustained predator-prey oscillations are achievable and essential for self-sustaining biocontrol.
• Findings support the use of Bdellovibrio as a biocontrol agent in clinical therapy, agriculture, and water treatment.