465: Partners Produce Predator Prevention

This episode: Bacteria living inside soil fungus produce toxins
that can protect their host from tiny predators!


Download Episode (7.7 MB, 11.2 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Mycobacterium virus DLane



Takeaways



Soils have many different organisms cooperating and competing
for resources. Some little worms called nematodes prey on
fungi in the soil, while fungi may effectively defend
themselves or strike back with toxins or traps that catch and
kill the worms. On top of these interactions are other
organisms that interact in various ways. In this study,
bacteria living inside a kind of soil fungus produce toxins
that defend the fungus against predatory nematodes.


 
Journal Paper:
Büttner H, Niehs SP, Vandelannoote K, Cseresnyés Z, Dose B,
Richter I, Gerst R, Figge MT, Stinear TP, Pidot SJ, Hertweck C.
2021. Bacterial endosymbionts protect beneficial soil fungus
from nematode attack. Proc Natl Acad Sci 118:e2110669118.



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