Joel Ching Kuma Mbanghanih (Jena / DE), Nia Verdon (Jena / DE), Ariane Zander (Jena / DE), Marco Mauri (Jena / DE), Silvia Vareschi (Jena / DE), Tatjana Malycheva (Jena / DE), Rosa Herbst (Jena / DE), Stefan Schuster (Jena / DE), Pierre Stallforth (Jena / DE), Rosalind Allen (Jena / DE)
Microbes exhibit diverse interactions including predation, symbiosis, and competition. These interactions impact the dynamics of microbial populations and therefore shape ecological outcomes within microbial communities. This study focuses on the interactions between Dictyostelium discoideum (Dicty) and bacteria. Dicty is a social amoeba that feeds on soil bacteria by phagocytosis and develops into multicellular aggregates and forms fruiting bodies in the absence of a food source. It has been reported that some Pseudomonads produce toxic compounds that prevent amoebal predation. We hypothesize that the dynamics of these interactions are largely dependent on the population sizes and spatial distribution of the interacting microbes. We seek to understand predatory, foraging, and defence behaviours between Dicty and different bacteria species.
We developed experimental setups that allow microscopic imaging of the interaction between Dicty and bacteria in liquid suspension and on agar. The images are analyzed using ImageJ/Mtrack/Labkit and MATLAB. The results obtained will ultimately be compared with mathematical models.
By combining population dynamics experiments with mathematical models, we intend to provide a better insight into how interactions mediated by natural products can affect the balance of microbial ecosystems. This understanding would help in the development of solutions to ecological, agricultural, clinical, or environmental problems, as well as the advancement of natural product research.