Chemoreception in Marine Bacteria (I). Chemical Detection of Microbial Prey by Bacterial Predators (II).
Abstract
A wide variety of motile marine bacteria were tested for their ability to detect and be attracted to organic chemicals. All bacteria tested displayed chemotactic responses to many different materials. These responses were highly specific for each bacterium. The attractant was not necessarily metabolized. The ecological significance of this widespread phenomenon of chemoreception among marine bacteria is discussed in this report. A motile, predacious bacterium which degraded Pythium debaryanum was strongly attracted to substances released into the medium by the fungus. A non-predacious bacterium was not attracted to these substances. The predator bacterium was specifically attracted to cellulose and its oligomers which are known to be components of the cell wall of Pythium. Ethanol inhibited chemotaxis of the bacterium without affecting either its motility or its ability to degrade cellulose. A second predacious bacterium was isolated for the alga, Skeletonema costatum. The role of chemoreception in the detection of microbial prey by bacterial predators in natural habitats is discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0736982
Entities
People
- Ilan Chet
- Ralph Mitchell
- Sam Fogel
Organizations
- Harvard University