Mutualistic interaction between Salmonella enterica and Aspergillus niger and its effects on Zea mays colonization.

ABSTRACT: Salmonella Typhimurium inhabits a variety of environments and is able to infect a broad range of hosts. Throughout its life cycle, some hosts can act as intermediates in the path to the infection of others. Aspergillus niger is a ubiquitous fungus that can often be found in soil or associated to plants and microbial consortia. Recently, S. Typhimurium was shown to establish biofilms on the hyphae of A. niger. In this work, we have found that this interaction is stable for weeks without a noticeable negative effect on either organism. Indeed, bacterial growth is promoted upon the establishment of the interaction. Moreover, bacterial biofilms protect the fungus from external insults such as the effects of the anti-fungal agent cycloheximide. Thus, the Salmonella-Aspergillus interaction can b

SUBMITTER: Balbontin R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4265077 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature