Bacterial symbioses. Predation and mutually beneficial associations

Authors

  • Isabel Esteve Department of Genetics and Microbiology and Institute for Fundamental Biology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
  • Núria Gaju Department of Genetics and Microbiology and Institute for Fundamental Biology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain

Keywords:

bacterial endosymbiosis, microbial predation, bacteria-protists relationships, bacteria-plants relationships, bacteria-animals relationships

Abstract

The endosymbiotic theory, which has proved to explain the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts, also posits the origin of nucleus and other cellular organelles that could have derived from ancient relationships among bacteria. It seems that predation might have been a prerequisite to the establishment of symbiosis as a source of evolutionary novelty. This review describes current different examples of bacteria able not only to attack and degrade other bacteria, but also to establish stable symbiotic relationships with different eukaryotic organisms.

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Published

2010-03-16

Issue

Section

Review Articles