Infections of Paramecium bursaria with bacteria and yeasts

Abstract

Infections of Paramecium bursaria with bacteria and yeasts are reported. Bacteria and yeasts multiply in the algae-free ciliate and are transmitted at various conditions as are symbiotic chlorellae. Like chlorellae, the bacteria and the yeast cells are situated in perisymbiont vacuoles. Both bacteria and yeasts maintain their capability for independent existence and can be grown on standard nutrient agar. Infection experiments show that aposymbiotic P. bursaria can be infected with Chlorella, bacteria and yeast. Chlorella-bearing P. bursaria cannot be infected with bacteria or yeast. Bacteria-bearing paramecia can be infected with Chlorella but not with yeast. Yeast-bearing paramecia can be infected with Chlorella but not with bacteria. Following infections with Chlorella the paramecia lose their bacteria or yeast symbionts. The bacteria found in P. bursaria probably belong to the genus Pseudomonas; the yeast has been identified as Rodutorula rubra.