Abstract
A “cascade” model depicts microbial degradation of a complex nutrient/substrate through a succession of intermediate compounds. Each stage is characterized by a particular species producing a typical degradation enzyme induced by its own degradation product. The final compound of the cascade consists of a single assimilable substrate used by all species. This results in a competition situation, whereas the contribution of all strains to the production of a complete set of efficient enzymes generates a mutualistic relationship. The model was shown to be appropriate to describe degradation of cellulose by a consortium of Streptomyces sp. strains. The simplicity and the model capacity for generalization are promising and could be used for various degradation processes both at laboratory and environmental scales.
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Thierie, J., Penninckx, M.J. Modeling of Competitive Mutualistic Relationships. Application to Cellulose Degradation by Streptomyces sp. Strains. Curr Microbiol 55, 507–511 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-9022-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-9022-7