Bacterial symbioses. Predation and mutually beneficial associations.
The endosymbiotic theory, which has proved to explain the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts, also posits the origin of nucleus and other cellular organelles that could have derived from ancient relationships among bacteria. It seems that predation might have been a prerequisite to the establishment of symbiosis as a source of evolutionary novelty. This review describes current different examples of bacteria able not only to attack and degrade other bacteria, but also to establish stable symbiotic relationships with different eukaryotic organisms.
Esteve
I
I
Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. ibfes@blues.uab.es
Gaju
N
N
D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D007313:Insecta / Q000382:microbiology; D015388:Organelles / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis