460: Prokaryote Publicity Prevents Protist Processes

This episode: A bacterial communication signal makes algae stop
growing, which helps them survive virus attacks!


Download Episode (5.3 MB, 7.7 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Veillonella parvula


 



Takeaways




Many interesting interactions between microbes take place
in the ocean. As single-celled organisms lacking complex
sensory organs, many such interactions and communications
are mediated by chemical signals. Some bacteria, for
example, each produce small amounts of certain chemicals
and release them into the environment. When the
concentration of the chemical signal builds up to a certain
point, the bacteria change their behavior to take advantage
of their high numbers that must be present to produce so
much of the signal. This process is called quorum sensing.


 


Some of these chemical signals can affect the behavior of
organisms other than bacteria also. In this study, a common
marine algal species was found to stop growing in response
to a certain bacterial signal. This chemical inhibits an
enzyme required for the algae to produce nucleotides to
replicate their genomes. As a result, the algae are able to
resist destruction by a virus that would otherwise decimate
their populations.



 
Journal Paper:
Pollara SB, Becker JW, Nunn BL, Boiteau R, Repeta D, Mudge MC,
Downing G, Chase D, Harvey EL, Whalen KE. 2021. Bacterial
Quorum-Sensing Signal Arrests Phytoplankton Cell Division and
Impacts Virus-Induced Mortality. mSphere 6:e00009-21.



Other interesting stories:



Comparing ancient gut microbes from fecal fossils to modern
gut communities / also this one




 


Email questions or comments to bacteriofiles at gmail dot
com. Thanks for listening!


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