Direct exchange of vitamin B12 is demonstrated by modelling the growth dynamics of algal-bacterial cocultures.

ABSTRACT: The growth dynamics of populations of interacting species in the aquatic environment is of great importance, both for understanding natural ecosystems and in efforts to cultivate these organisms for industrial purposes. Here we consider a simple two-species system wherein the bacterium Mesorhizobium loti supplies vitamin B12 (cobalamin) to the freshwater green alga Lobomonas rostrata, which requires this organic micronutrient for growth. In return, the bacterium receives photosynthate from the alga. Mathematical models are developed that describe minimally the interdependence between the two organisms, and that fit the experimental observations of the consortium. These models enable us to distinguish between different mechanisms of nutrient exchange between the organisms, and provide stron

SUBMITTER: Grant MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4069406 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature