Unraveling the predator-prey relationship of Cupriavidus necator and Bacillus subtilis.
Cupriavidus necator is a non-obligate bacterial predator of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, we set out to determine the conditions, which are necessary to observe predatory behavior of C. necator. Using Bacillus subtilis as a prey organism, we confirmed that the predatory performance of C. necator is correlated with the available copper level, and that the killing is mediated, at least in part, by secreted extracellular factors. The predatory activity depends on the nutrition status of C. necator, but does not require a quorum of predator cells. This suggests that C. necator is no group predator. Further analyses revealed that sporulation enables B. subtilis to avoid predation by C. necator. In contrast to the interaction with predatory myxobacteria, however, an intact spore coat is not required for resistance. Instead resistance is possibly mediated by quiescence.
Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Ivana
I
Seccareccia
Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Ákos T
ÁT
Kovács
Terrestrial Biofilms Group, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Ramses
R
Gallegos-Monterrosa
Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany; Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Technical Biology, Technical University Dortmund, Emil-Figge-Str. 66, 44227 Dortmund, Germany. Electronic address: markus.nett@bci.tu-dortmund.de.
Markus
M
Nett
D000898:Antibiosis; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology*; D003300:Copper; D020118:Cupriavidus necator / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D013171:Spores, Bacterial
D003300:Copper
Bacillus subtilis; Cupriavidus necator; Predator-prey relationship; Spore resistance