Table 1. Growth and PHA content at time zero and 24 h of co-cultures involving B. bacteriovorus HD100 or the Bd3709 mutant preying on PHA-accumulating P. putida KT2440.
| Strain culturesa | Prey biomass 0 h (g l−1) | Prey PHA content 0 h (g l−1) | PHA content in the bacterial sediment 24 h (g l−1) | PHA hydrolysis product contents in medium 24 h (g l−1) | Prey cell count 24 h (105 cfu ml−1) | Predator cell count 24 h (108 pfu ml−1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KT2440b | 1.92 ± 0.08 | 1.07 ± 0.11 | 0.87 ± 0.06 | 0.15 ± 0.090 | 1270 ± 423 | – |
| HD100/KT2440 | 1.92 ± 0.08 | 1.07 ± 0.11 | 0.65 ± 0.05 | 0.38 ± 0.070 | 1.05 ± 0.84 | 26.20 ± 2.62 |
| Bd3709/KT2440 | 1.92 ± 0.08 | 1.07 ± 0.11 | 0.85 ± 0.05 | 0.24 ± 0.020 | 0.09 ± 0.1 | 15.20 ± 4.11 |
aViable prey cell numbers at time zero of predation: (9.5 ± 2.4) · 107 cfu ml−1. Viable B. bacteriovorus HD100 cell numbers at time zero of predation: (8.3 ± 3.7) · 107 pfu ml−1. Viable B. bacteriovorus Bd3709 cell number at time zero of predation: (4.4 ± 2.3) · 107 pfu ml−1.
bControl prey cultures (i.e., with no predatory bacteria).