Random encounters and amoeba locomotion drive the predation of Listeria monocytogenes by Acanthamoeba castellanii.

ABSTRACT: Predatory protozoa play an essential role in shaping microbial populations. Among these protozoa, Acanthamoeba are ubiquitous in the soil and aqueous environments inhabited by Listeria monocytogenes. Observations of predator-prey interactions between these two microorganisms revealed a predation strategy in which Acanthamoeba castellanii assemble L. monocytogenes in aggregates, termed backpacks, on their posterior. The rapid formation and specific location of backpacks led to the assumption that A. castellanii may recruit L. monocytogenes by releasing an attractant. However, this hypothesis has not been validated, and the mechanisms driving this process remained unknown. Here, we combined video microscopy, microfluidics, single-cell image analyses,

SUBMITTER: de Schaetzen F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9371647 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature