Ecology and characteristics of bdellovibrios from three tropical marine habitats

Sutton, D. C.; Besant, P. J.

doi:10.1007/bf00349571

Cited by 36 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Predation by bacteria has been well described for Vibrio spp., most notably Vibrio parahaemolyticus, where infection by predatory Bdellovibrio spp. plays a role in the population dynamics of these species (230,319). Bacteriophage infection affects a much wider range of bacteria, and viral infection was suggested to be a mechanism responsible for the elimination of up to 50% of autochthonous bacteria from aquatic habitats (109,266,327).…”

Section: Responses To Environmental Stressorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enterococci in the Environment

Byappanahalli

Nevers

Korajkic

et al. 2012

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

565

383

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SUMMARYEnterococci are common, commensal members of gut communities in mammals and birds, yet they are also opportunistic pathogens that cause millions of human and animal infections annually. Because they are shed in human and animal feces, are readily culturable, and predict human health risks from exposure to polluted recreational waters, they are used as surrogates for waterborne pathogens and as fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in research and in water quality testing throughout the world. Evidence from several decades of research demonstrates, however, that enterococci may be present in high densities in the absence of obvious fecal sources and that environmental reservoirs of these FIB are important sources and sinks, with the potential to impact water quality. This review focuses on the distribution and microbial ecology of enterococci in environmental (secondary) habitats, including the effect of environmental stressors; an outline of their known and apparent sources, sinks, and fluxes; and an overview of the use of enterococci as FIB. Finally, the significance of emerging methodologies, such as microbial source tracking (MST) and empirical predictive models, as tools in water quality monitoring is addressed. The mounting evidence for widespread extraenteric sources and reservoirs of enterococci demonstrates the versatility of the genusEnterococcusand argues for the necessity of a better understanding of their ecology in natural environments, as well as their roles as opportunistic pathogens and indicators of human pathogens.

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Section: Responses To Environmental Stressorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enterococci in the Environment

Byappanahalli

Nevers

Korajkic

et al. 2012

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

565

383

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“…Although relatively low in abundance, typically 0-50 plaque-forming units (PFU) per ml (Taylor et al, 1974;Varon and Shilo, 1980;Richards et al, 2013), compared with viruses, BALOs are ubiquitous globally. They have been isolated from oceans, seas, estuaries, salt lakes, ponds, freshwater systems and soils (Taylor et al, 1974;Williams, 1979;Sutton and Besant, 1994;Pineiro et al, 2004;Davidov et al, 2006;Pineiro et al, 2007). Furthermore, many bacteria, up to 80% of cultivable organisms in estuarine systems, have been reported to be susceptible to predation by BALOs (Rice et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Halobacteriovorax, an underestimated predator on bacteria: potential impact relative to viruses on bacterial mortality

et al. 2015

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Predation on bacteria and accompanying mortality are important mechanisms in controlling bacterial populations and recycling of nutrients through the microbial loop. The agents most investigated and seen as responsible for bacterial mortality are viruses and protists. However, a body of evidence suggests that predatory bacteria such as the Halobacteriovorax (formerly Bacteriovorax), a Bdellovibrio-like organism, contribute substantially to bacterial death. Until now, conclusive evidence has been lacking. The goal of this study was to better understand the contributors to bacterial mortality by addressing the poorly understood role of Halobacteriovorax and how their role compares with that of viruses. The results revealed that when a concentrated suspension of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was added into microcosms of estuarine waters, the native Halobacteriovorax were the predators that responded first and most rapidly. Their numbers increased by four orders of magnitude, whereas V. parahaemolyticus prey numbers decreased by three orders of magnitude. In contrast, the extant virus population showed little increase and produced little change in the prey density. An independent experiment with stable isotope probing confirmed that Halobacteriovorax were the predators primarily responsible for the mortality of the V. parahaemolyticus. The results show that Halobacteriovorax have the potential to be significant contributors to bacterial mortality, and in such cases, predation by Halobacteriovorax may be an important mechanism of nutrient recycling. These conclusions add another dimension to bacterial mortality and the recycling of nutrients.

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“…Such findings have advanced knowledge of Bacteriovorax, and raised new questions about environmental parameters that account for the varied distribution patterns of different OTUs. Salinity and temperature are among such parameters (Williams and Falkler, 1984;Pineiro et al, 2007) and there is speculation on a role for the prey (Sutton and Besant, 1994;Pineiro et al, 2004). In this scenario, different prey species select for distinct populations of Bacteriovorax OTUs, and thereby influence the presence, distribution and services of the predators in nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prey bacteria shape the community structure of their predators

Chen

Athar²,

Zheng

et al. 2011

The ISME Journal

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Although predator-prey interactions among higher organisms have been studied extensively, only few examples are known for microbes other than protists and viruses. Among the bacteria, the most studied obligate predators are the Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) that prey on many other bacteria. In the macroscopical world, both predator and prey influence the population size of the other's community, and may have a role in selection. However, selective pressures among prey and predatory bacteria have been rarely investigated. In this study, Bacteriovorax, a predator within the group of BALOs, in environmental waters were fed two prey bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The two prey species yielded distinct Bacteriovorax populations, evidence that selective pressures shaped the predator community and diversity. The results of laboratory experiments confirmed the differential predation of Bacteriovorax phylotypes on the two bacteria species. Not only did Bacteriovorax Cluster IX exhibit the versatility to be the exclusive efficient predator on Vibrio vulnificus, thereby, behaving as a specialist, but was also able to prey with similar efficiency on Vibrio parahaemolyticus, indicative of a generalist. Therefore, we proposed a designation of versatilist for this predator. This initiative should provide a basis for further efforts to characterize the predatory patterns of bacterial predators. The results of this study have revealed impacts of the prey on Bacteriovorax predation and in structuring the predator community, and advanced understanding of predation behavior in the microbial world.

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Ecology and characteristics of bdellovibrios from three tropical marine habitats

Cited by 36 publications

References 17 publications

Enterococci in the Environment

Enterococci in the Environment

Halobacteriovorax, an underestimated predator on bacteria: potential impact relative to viruses on bacterial mortality

Prey bacteria shape the community structure of their predators

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