Back to Search Start Over

Network Relationships of Bacteria in a Stable Mixed Culture.

Authors :
Kato, Souichiro
Haruta, Shin
Zong Jun Cui
Ishii, Masaharu
Igarashi, Yasuo
Source :
Microbial Ecology; Oct2008, Vol. 56 Issue 3, p403-411, 9p, 1 Diagram, 1 Chart, 3 Graphs
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

We investigated the network relationships of bacteria in a structurally stable mixed culture degrading cellulose. The mixed culture consists of four bacterial strains (a cellulose-degrading anaerobe [strain S], a saccharide-utilizing anaerobe [strain F], a peptide- and acetate-utilizing aerobe [strain 3] and a peptide-, glucose-, and ethanol-utilizing aerobe [strain 5]). Interspecies interactions were examined by analyzing the effects of culture filtrates on the growth of the other strains and by comprehensively analyzing population dynamics in the mixed-culture systems with all possible combinations of the four bacterial strains. The persistence of strain S depends on the effects of strain 5. However, strain 5 is a disadvantaged strain because strain 3 has bacteriocidal activity on strain 5. The extinction of strain 5 is indirectly prevented by strain F that suppresses the growth of strain 3. Although strain F directly has suppressive effects on the growth of strain S, strain F is essential for the persistence of strain S, considering the indirect effects (maintaining strain 5, which is essential for the survival of strain S, by inhibiting strain 3). These indirect relationships form a bacterial network in which all the relationships including suppressive effects were well balanced to maintain the structural stability. In addition to direct metabolite interactions, such kind of indirect relationships could have a great impact on microbial community structure in the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00953628
Volume :
56
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Microbial Ecology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
34148464
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-007-9357-4