Bacterial competition: surviving and thriving in the microbial jungle.
Most natural environments harbour a stunningly diverse collection of microbial species. In these communities, bacteria compete with their neighbours for space and resources. Laboratory experiments with pure and mixed cultures have revealed many active mechanisms by which bacteria can impair or kill other microorganisms. In addition, a growing body of theoretical and experimental population studies indicates that the interactions within and between bacterial species can have a profound impact on the outcome of competition in nature. The next challenge is to integrate the findings of these laboratory and theoretical studies and to evaluate the predictions that they generate in more natural settings.
Hibbing
Michael E
ME
Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
Fuqua
Clay
C
Parsek
Matthew R
MR
Peterson
S Brook
SB
D000898:Antibiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D050296:Microbial Viability