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Differential Predation by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J

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Abstract

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a predatory bacterium that can replicate only inside Gram-negative bacteria. We incubated B. bacteriovorus 109J in a mixture of two prey cells present in equal numbers and enumerated prey cells after 3 h of predation. In multiple prey pairings, B. bacteriovorus preferentially lysed on one prey over the other. When prey were individually incubated with B. bacteriovorus, they were preyed on with different efficiencies. Three prey had only 5–8% of cells remaining after Bdellovibrio predation and the other three prey had 37–43% of cells remaining. Timing of attachment of B. bacteriovorus to prey cells also varied with Bdellovibrio attachment to more preferred prey occurring the fastest. These results suggest that B. bacteriovorus 109J does not randomly infect prey cells but infects and kills some prey more readily than others.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Robert Tardiff and Barbara Wainwright for statistical advice. We thank Mark Frana and Jo Handelsman for reviewing the manuscript. This research was funded by the Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology at Salisbury University and the Appalachian College Association.

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Author notes

  1. Amy M. Rogosky

    Present address: Microbilogy, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536

  2. Pamela L. Moak

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV, 26201, USA

    Amy M. Rogosky

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, 21801, USA

    Pamela L. Moak & Elizabeth A. B. Emmert

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  1. Amy M. Rogosky
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  2. Pamela L. Moak
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  3. Elizabeth A. B. Emmert
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Correspondence to Elizabeth A. B. Emmert.

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Rogosky, A.M., Moak, P.L. & Emmert, E.A.B. Differential Predation by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J. Curr Microbiol 52, 81–85 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-005-0038-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-005-0038-6

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