Vie et Milieu-Life and Environment最新文献

Adhesion and biofilm forming ability of symbiotic bacteria play a crucial role in host colonization and tissue infection. Bacteria benefit by adhering to their host in a manner that allows them to successfully maintain contact for the exchange of nutrients, hormones, or other necessary products. This study examined pili morphology, motility, and biofilm formation exhibited by Vibrio fischeri strains (free-living and symbiotic). Since these symbiotic factors contribute in some fashion to the interaction between V. fischeri and their squid host, variation between strains may be a contributing factor that leads to specificity among different hosts. V. fischeri strains examined in this study demonstrated considerable variation in their biological properties when observed in vitro. In addition to differences observed between strains isolated from several different host species, we observed variation between strains isolated from the same host species from diverse geographical locations. This study suggests that subtle differences in the biological properties of closely related V. fischeri strains may influence the nature of the interaction among V. fischeri and their sepiolid hosts.

The class Cephalopoda (Phylum Mollusca), encompassing squids and octopuses, contains multiple species that are characterized by the presence of specialized organs known to emit light. These complex organs have a variety of morphological characteristics ranging from groups of simple, light-producing cells, to highly specialized organs (light organs) with cells surrounded by reflectors, lenses, light guides, color filters, and muscles. Bacteriogenic light organs have been well characterized in sepiolid squids, but a number of species in the family Loliginidae are also known to contain bacteriogenic light organs. Interest in loliginid light organ structure has recently arisen because of their potential as ecological niches for Vibrio harveyi, a pathogenic marine bacterium. This also implies the importance of loliginid light organs as reservoirs for V. harveyi persistence in the ocean. The present study utilized transmission and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the morphology of loliginid light organs and determined the location of bacterial symbiont cells within the tissue. It was determined that the rod-shaped loliginid symbionts lack flagella, as similarly observed in other light organ-associated bacteria. Also, the interaction of individual cells to light organ tissue is not as defined as reported for other squid-Vibrio systems. In addition, SEM observations show the presence of two pores leading to the bacterial chamber. Data presented here offer support for the hypothesis of environmental transfer of bacterial symbionts in loliginid squids.

Mutualistic relationships between bacteria and their eukaryotic hosts have existed for millions of years, and such associations can be used to understand the evolution of these beneficial partnerships. The symbiosis between sepiolid squids (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae), and their Vibrio bacteria (gamma Proteobacteria: Vibrionaceae), has been a model system for over 20 years, giving insight as to the specificity of the association, and whether the interactions themselves give rise to such finely tuned dialog. Since the association is environmentally transmitted, selection for specificity can evolve from a number of factors; abiotic (temperature, salinity), as well as biotic (host species, receptors, cell/cell interactions). Here, we examine the transition between these forces effecting the symbiosis, and pose possible explanations as to why this association offers many attributes for understanding the role of symbiotic competence.