Shadowing the Actions of a Predator: Backlit Fluorescent Microscopy Reveals Synchronous Nonbinary Septation of Predatory Bdellovibrio inside Prey and Exit through Discrete Bdelloplast Pores

摘要: The Bdellovibrio are miniature "living antibiotic" predatory bacteria which invade, reseal, and digest other larger Gram-negative bacteria, including pathogens. Nutrients for the replication of come entirely from digestion single invaded bacterium, now called a bdelloplast, is bound by original prey outer membrane. efficient digesters cells, yielding on average 4 to 6 progeny cell genome size similar that itself. developmental intrabacterial cycle largely unknown has never been visualized "live." Using latest motorized xy stage with very defined z-axis control engineered periplasmically fluorescent allows, first time, accurate return visualization without bleaching developing cells using solely inner resources over several hours. We show do not follow familiar pattern bacterial division binary fission. Instead, they septate synchronously produce both odd even numbers progeny, when two separate have develop within producing different amounts progeny. Evolution this novel septation pattern, allowing yields, allows optimal use finite maximal replicated, bacteria. When complete, exit exhausted seen leaving via discrete pores rather than breakdown entire membrane prey.