Authors
Elisa T Granato, Thomas A Meiller-Legrand, Kevin R Foster
Publication date
2019/6/3
Source
Current Biology
Volume
29
Issue
11
Pages
R521-R537
Publisher
Cell Press
Description
Bacteria have evolved a wide range of mechanisms to harm and kill their competitors, including chemical, mechanical and biological weapons. Here we review the incredible diversity of bacterial weapon systems, which comprise antibiotics, toxic proteins, mechanical weapons that stab and pierce, viruses, and more. The evolution of bacterial weapons is shaped by many factors, including cell density and nutrient abundance, and how strains are arranged in space. Bacteria also employ a diverse range of combat behaviours, including pre-emptive attacks, suicidal attacks, and reciprocation (tit-for-tat). However, why bacteria carry so many weapons, and why they are so often used, remains poorly understood. By comparison with animals, we argue that the way that bacteria live — often in dense and genetically diverse communities — is likely to be key to their aggression as it encourages them to dig in and fight …
Scholar articles
ET Granato, TA Meiller-Legrand, KR Foster - Current biology, 2019