Modeling of competitive mutualistic relationships. Application to cellulose degradation by Streptomyces sp. strains.
A "cascade" model depicts microbial degradation of a complex nutrient/substrate through a succession of intermediate compounds. Each stage is characterized by a particular species producing a typical degradation enzyme induced by its own degradation product. The final compound of the cascade consists of a single assimilable substrate used by all species. This results in a competition situation, whereas the contribution of all strains to the production of a complete set of efficient enzymes generates a mutualistic relationship. The model was shown to be appropriate to describe degradation of cellulose by a consortium of Streptomyces sp. strains. The simplicity and the model capacity for generalization are promising and could be used for various degradation processes both at laboratory and environmental scales.
Thierie
Jacques
J
Laboratoire de Physiologie et Ecologie Microbienne, Université libre de Bruxelles, 642, Rue Engeland, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium.
Penninckx
Michel J
MJ
D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D043366:Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase / Q000378:metabolism; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D008954:Models, Biological; D012984:Software; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
D002482:Cellulose; D002480:Cellulase; D043366:Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase