Recovery of bdellovibrios from submerged surfaces and other aquatic habitats

Abstract

The distribution of bdellovibrios was investigated over a wide geographical area of the Chesapeake Bay including some tributaries and subestuaries. Bdellovibrios were recovered from five aquatic habitats; water, sediment, oyster shell surface biofilm, zooplankton, and plants over a wide range of temperature and salinity measurements. Consistently, the greatest number of the predators was recovered from samples of biofilm irrespective of temperature and salinity. A decrease in the numbers and frequency of predators recovered from all habitats was observed at temperatures below 10°C. Only the shell surface biofilm samples yielded bdellovibrios 100% of the time. The organisms were recovered from 79% of water samples and 44% of sediment samples. The results reveal that bdellovibrios are surface-associated organisms and that this association appears to provide some protection for the predators at low temperatures.

The dual probiotic and antibiotic nature of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

“…After their initial discovery, Bdellovibrios were isolated from various habitats and found to be widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial environments (6)(7)(8)(9). Since its discovery and up to the time of writing this review, more than 390 articles have been published concerning this bacterium and similar organisms.…”

Susceptibility of Biofilms to Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Attack

“…However, they can also be found in fresh and brackish water, sewage, water reservoirs, and seawater (16,17,34). Another environmental niche with which bdellovibrios have been associated are biofilms (18,48). It is believed that biofilms might offer good conditions for bdellovibrios' survival since these organisms have been found in natural marine biofilms but are not always recovered from the surrounding water (17,18,48).…”

“…Another environmental niche with which bdellovibrios have been associated are biofilms (18,48). It is believed that biofilms might offer good conditions for bdellovibrios' survival since these organisms have been found in natural marine biofilms but are not always recovered from the surrounding water (17,18,48). It is suggested that in a biofilm bdellovibrios can benefit from higher prey density, which has been shown to be necessary for Bdellovibrio survival (19,44).…”

Prey Range Characterization, Ribotyping, and Diversity of Soil and Rhizosphere Bdellovibrio spp. Isolated on Phytopathogenic Bacteria

“…They can also be found in freshwater, brackish water, seawater, sewage, water pipes, and water reservoirs (13,22). It has been shown that marine Bdellovibrio species preferentially associate with surfaces, where they are components of biofilms (13,31).The biphasic growth cycle of Bdellovibrio species includes a free-swimming attack phase and an intraperiplasmic growth phase; this growth cycle distinguishes this group of bacteria from all other bacterial parasites of bacteria (29). Three Bdellovibrio species, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, Bdellovibrio stolpii, and Bdellovibrio starrii, were described first on the basis of their GϩC contents and DNA relative association data (23, 26) and then on the basis of 16S rRNA analysis data (6).…”

“…They can also be found in freshwater, brackish water, seawater, sewage, water pipes, and water reservoirs (13,22). It has been shown that marine Bdellovibrio species preferentially associate with surfaces, where they are components of biofilms (13,31).…”