Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01067.x
Title (Primary) In situ grazing resistance of Vibrio cholerae in the marine environment
Author Erken, M.; Weitere, M.; Kjelleberg, S.; McDougald, D.
Source Titel FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Year 2011
Department FLOEK
Volume 76
Issue 3
Page From 504
Page To 512
Language englisch
Keywords Vibrio cholerae; biofilm; toxicity; protozoa; field; antiprotozoan activity
Abstract Previous laboratory experiments revealed that Vibrio cholerae A1552 biofilms secrete an antiprotozoal factor that prevents Rhynchomonas nasuta from growing and thus prevents grazing losses. The antiprotozoal factor is regulated by the quorum-sensing response regulator, HapR. Here, we investigate whether the antiprotozoal activity is ecologically relevant. Experiments were conducted in the field as well as under field-like conditions in the laboratory to assess the grazing resistance of V. cholerae A1552 and N16961 (natural frameshift mutation in hapR) biofilms to R. nasuta and Cafeteria roenbergensis. In laboratory experiments exposing the predators to V. cholerae grown in seawater containing high and low glucose concentrations, we determined that V. cholerae biofilms showed increased resistance towards grazing by both predators as glucose levels decreased. The relative resistance of the V. cholerae strains to the grazers under semi-field conditions was similar to that observed in situ. Therefore, the antipredator defense is environmentally relevant and not lost when biofilms are grown in an open system in the marine environment. The hapR mutant still exhibited some resistance to both predators and this suggests that V. cholerae may coordinate antipredator defenses by a combination of density-dependent regulation and environmental sensing to protect itself from predators in its natural habitat.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=11050
Erken, M., Weitere, M., Kjelleberg, S., McDougald, D. (2011):
In situ grazing resistance of Vibrio cholerae in the marine environment
FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 76 (3), 504 - 512 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01067.x