Frequency-dependent advantages of plasmid carriage by Pseudomonas in homogeneous and spatially structured environments

Ellis, Richard J.; Lilley, Andrew K.; Lacey, Samantha J.; Murrell, David; Godfray, H. Charles J.. 2007 Frequency-dependent advantages of plasmid carriage by Pseudomonas in homogeneous and spatially structured environments. ISME Journal, 1 (1). 92-95. 10.1038/ismej.2007.11

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Official URL: http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/v1/n1/abs/isme...

Abstract/Summary

The conditions promoting the persistence of a plasmid carrying a trait that may be mutually beneficial to other cells in its vicinity were studied in structured and unstructured environments. A large plasmid encoding mercury resistance in Pseudomonas fluorescens was used, and the mercury concentration allowing invasion from rare for both plasmid-bearing and plasmid-free cells was determined for different initial inoculum densities in batch-culture structured (filter surface) and unstructured (mixed broth) environments. A range of mercury concentrations were found where both cell types could coexist, the regions being relatively similar in the two types of environment although density-dependent in the unstructured environment. The coexistence is explained in terms of frequency-dependent selection of the mutually beneficial mercury resistance trait, and the dynamics of bacterial growth under batch culture conditions. However, the region of coexistence was complicated by conjugation which increased plasmid spread in the mixed broth culture but not the structured environment.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/ismej.2007.11
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hails
ISSN:	1751-7362
Additional Keywords:	coexistence, mutually beneficial, frequency-dependence, conjugation, spatial structure
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology
Date made live:	24 Jan 2008 13:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/2159

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/ismej.2007.11

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Hails

ISSN:

1751-7362

Additional Keywords:

coexistence, mutually beneficial, frequency-dependence, conjugation, spatial structure