Figure 2. Community dynamics of bacteriocin producers in an unstractured environment.

Competitions between bacteriocin producers in an unstructured environment were tested (A)Competition in unstrauctured habitat cwas tested empirically and (B) numerically. Both simulations demonstrate that competition between equal bacteriocinogenic strains (in this case mutually triggering mild bacteriocin expression) resolves in the slightly more potent bacteriocinogenic strain prevailing when initial concentrations are equal. (A) We followed the fluorescently labeled ColA over time to illustrate the competition between two pore formers (ColA and ColK) both mild inducers of colicin expression. ColK, the producer of a slightly more potent colicin, challenged ColA at various initial frequencies. At the higher starting frequencies ColK outcompeted ColA (note that ColA fluorescence did not increase over time), while at lower starting frequencies ColA outcompeted ColK. Data points are the average of three independent measurements. (B) Time evolution is illustrated by the bacteriocin producers strains A (blue line) and B (red line); both strains are mild inducers but bacteriocin B is slightly more potent. The strains were simulated to compete at equal initial frequencies and the more potent strain prevailed.