Open AccessEffects of a muramidase on a mixed bacterial community
Author(s) -
Mercier Carine,
Domakova Elena,
Tremblay Josselyne,
Kulakauskas Saulius
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09135.x
Subject(s) - muramidase , streptococcus thermophilus , lactococcus lactis , peptidoglycan , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , autolysin , lysozyme , bacterial cell structure , biology , population , streptococcaceae , enzyme , chemistry , biochemistry , genetics , antibiotics , lactobacillus , lactic acid , demography , sociology
In bacterial communities one bacterium can influence the growth of other members of the population. These interactions may be based on nutritional factors or may occur via bacterial signaling molecules that are released in the medium. We present an example, showing that in addition to the above means of interactions, muramidases, enzymes that specifically cleave peptidoglycan chains, can also mediate interactions between bacteria. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization we demonstrate that Lactococcus lactis muramidase AcmA can hydrolyze the cell wall of Streptococcus thermophilus , without affecting viability. This intercellular activity of the lactococcal muramidase results in chain disruption of streptococci in vivo. Our data lead us to propose that chains can give growth advantages to streptococci in aerobic conditions.