Inhibition of Predation byBdellovibrio bacteriovorusandMicavibrio aeruginosavorusvia Host Cell Metabolic Activity in the Presence of Carbohydrates

Abstract

ABSTRACTBdellovibrio bacteriovorusandMicavibrio aeruginosavorusare highly motile Gram-negative predatory bacteria with the potential of being used as biocontrol agents or living antibiotics. It was suggested previously that sugar-binding proteins play a role inM. aeruginosavorusandB. bacteriovorushost specificity and predator-prey interactions. The effect of carbohydrates on predation was reexamined in this study. It was demonstrated that the presence of carbohydrates could indeed block predation. However, further investigation demonstrated that inhibition of predation was due to medium acidification by the metabolic activity of the host and not to a blocking of a putative sugar-binding protein. The data presented here might be of value when storing, growing, and cultivating predatory bacteria, as well as when considering environmental conditions that might influence predation in the field.