Skip to main content
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1966 May;91(5):2006–2017. doi: 10.1128/jb.91.5.2006-2017.1966

Parasitic Interaction of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus with Other Bacteria

Mortimer P Starr 1, Nancy L Baigent 1
PMCID: PMC316158  PMID: 5327913

Abstract

Starr, Mortimer P. (University of California, Davis), and Nancy L. Baigent. Parasitic interaction of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus with other bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 91:2006–2017. 1966.—The interactions of the predatory parasite, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, with Erwinia amylovora, Pseudomonas tabaci, and P. phaseolicola were examined by means of phase-contrast and electron microscopy. Attachment of the bdellovibrio to the host cell is apparently initially reversible; detachment occurs infrequently in the later stages. Formation of a pore in the host cell wall is followed by disorganization of the host nucleus and of the murein layer of the host cell wall. Short host cells become totally spheroplasted; the longer rods of Pseudomonas usually are partially spheroplasted. The parasite completely invades the host cell, and the cell contents of the host are digested. Bdellovibrios living as parasites inside the host increase considerably in size in comparison with those which have been living away from the host for a time. When the host protoplast is entirely lysed, the parasites leave the disintegrating “ghosted” cell envelope, and are ready to reinitiate the parasitic cycle. The time taken for a mature Bdellovibrio cell to complete the parasitic cycle may vary depending on the length of time the parasite has been away from its hosts.

Full text

PDF
2006

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Buckmire F. L., MacLeod R. A. Nutrition and metabolism of marine bacteria. XIV. On the mechanism of lysis of a marine bacterium. Can J Microbiol. 1965 Aug;11(4):677–691. doi: 10.1139/m65-091. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CIAK J., HAHN F. E. Penicillin-induced lysis of Escherichia coli. Science. 1957 Jan 18;125(3238):119–120. doi: 10.1126/science.125.3238.119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. MURRAY R. G., STEED P., ELSON H. E. THE LOCATION OF THE MUCOPEPTIDE IN SECTIONS OF THE CELL WALL OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND OTHER GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA. Can J Microbiol. 1965 Jun;11:547–560. doi: 10.1139/m65-072. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Martin H. H. Bacterial protoplasts--a review. J Theor Biol. 1963 Jul;5(1):1–34. doi: 10.1016/0022-5193(63)90034-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. RYTER A., KELLENBERGER E., BIRCHANDERSEN A., MAALOE O. Etude au microscope électronique de plasmas contenant de l'acide désoxyribonucliéique. I. Les nucléoides des bactéries en croissance active. Z Naturforsch B. 1958 Sep;13B(9):597–605. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. STARR M. P., KUHN D. A. On the origin of V-forms in Arthrobacter atrocyaneus. Arch Mikrobiol. 1962;42:289–298. doi: 10.1007/BF00422046. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. STOLP H., STARR M. P. BDELLOVIBRIO BACTERIOVORUS GEN. ET SP. N., A PREDATORY, ECTOPARASITIC, AND BACTERIOLYTIC MICROORGANISM. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 1963;29:217–248. doi: 10.1007/BF02046064. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Shilo M., Bruff B. Lysis of Gram-negative bacteria by host-independent ectoparasitic Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus isolates. J Gen Microbiol. 1965 Sep;40(3):317–328. doi: 10.1099/00221287-40-3-317. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Stolp H., Starr M. P. Bacteriolysis. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1965;19:79–104. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.19.100165.000455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES