Identification of genes essential for prey-independent growth of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100.

ABSTRACT: Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 is an obligate predatory bacterium that attacks and invades Gram-negative bacteria. The predator requires living bacteria to survive as growth and replication take place inside the bacterial prey. It is possible to isolate mutants that grow and replicate outside prey bacteria. Such mutants are designated host or prey independent, and their nutritional requirements vary. Some mutants are saprophytic and require prey extracts for extracellular growth, whereas other mutants grow axenically, which denotes the formation of colonies on complete medium in the absence of any prey components. The initial events leading to prey-independent growth are still under debate, and several genes may be involved. We selected new mutants by three different methods: spontaneous

SUBMITTER: Roschanski N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3067643 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature