Deciphering the hunting strategy of a bacterial wolfpack. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2009 Sep;33(5):942-57
Date
06/13/2009Pubmed ID
19519767Pubmed Central ID
PMC2774760DOI
10.1111/j.1574-6976.2009.00185.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-68149094083 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 175 CitationsAbstract
Myxococcus xanthus is a common soil bacterium with an intricate multicellular lifestyle that continues to challenge the way in which we conceptualize the capabilities of prokaryotic organisms. Myxococcus xanthus is the preferred laboratory representative from the Myxobacteria, a family of organisms distinguished by their ability to form highly structured biofilms that include tentacle-like packs of surface-gliding cell groups, synchronized rippling waves of oscillating cells and massive spore-filled aggregates that protrude upwards from the substratum to form fruiting bodies. But most of the Myxobacteria are also predators that thrive on the degradation of macromolecules released through the lysis of other microbial cells. The aim of this review is to examine our understanding of the predatory life cycle of M. xanthus. We will examine the multicellular structures formed during contact with prey, and the molecular mechanisms utilized by M. xanthus to detect and destroy prey cells. We will also examine our understanding of microbial predator-prey relationships and the prospects for how bacterial predation mechanisms can be exploited to generate new antimicrobial technologies.
Author List
Berleman JE, Kirby JRAuthor
John Kirby PhD Chair, Center Associate Director, Professor in the Microbiology and Immunology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Bacterial ProteinsBacteriolysis
Chemotaxis
Food Chain
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Myxococcus xanthus
Spores, Bacterial