The predation strategy of Myxococcus xanthus

Microbiology Seminar Series

  • Datum: 04.04.2022
  • Uhrzeit: 13:15
  • Vortragende(r): Dr. Christine Kaimer
  • Ruhr Universität Bochum, Department for Biology and Biotechnology, Microbial Biology
  • Ort: MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology
  • Raum: Lecture hall
  • Gastgeber: Dr. Andreas Diepold
  • Kontakt: andreas.diepold@mpi-marburg.mpg.de

Predation shapes interbacterial interactions in different habitats, but we know little about its molecular mechanisms. We investigate predation mechanisms in the myxobacterium Myxococcus xanthus, which feeds on a broad range of microorganisms in soil.

Comparing different bacteriolytic properties of M. xanthus, we found that an unkown, cell-contact dependent mechanism is used to kill Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. This involves the concerted action of two protein secretion systems, which accumulate at the predator-prey interface. These secretion systems mediate cell death and lysis, respectively, and are both required for M. xanthus to extract nutrients from prey.

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