Keeping it together: absence of genetic variation and DNA incorporation by the predatory bacteria Micavibrio aeruginosavorus and Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus during predation

In this study, we examined the genetic makeup of several lab isolates of the predators Bdellovibriobacteriovorus and Micavibrioaeruginosavorus that were cultured repeatedly and stored over a course of 13 years. We also conducted controlled experiments in which the predators were sequentially co-cultured on Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by genetic analysis of the predator. In both cases, we saw little genetic variation and no evidence of horizontally transferred chromosomal DNA from the prey during predator–prey interaction. Culturing the predators repeatedly did not cause any change in predation efficacy.

Source: Research in Microbiology - July 10, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research