No apparent costs for facultative antibiotic production by the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1

P.V. Garbeva, O. Tyc, M.N.P. Remus-Emsermann, A. Van der Wal, M. Vos, M.W. Silby, W. De Boer

Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)
387 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Many soil-inhabiting bacteria are known to produce secondary metabolites that can suppress microorganisms competing for the same resources. The production of antimicrobial compounds is expected to incur fitness costs for the producing bacteria. Such costs form the basis for models on the co-existence of antibiotic-producing and non-antibiotic producing strains. However, so far studies quantifying the costs of antibiotic production by bacteria are scarce. The current study reports on possible costs, for antibiotic production by Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1, a soil bacterium that is induced to produce a broad-spectrum antibiotic when it is confronted with non-related bacterial competitors or supernatants of their cultures. Methodology and Principal Findings: We measured the possible cost of antibiotic production for Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 by monitoring changes in growth rate with and without induction of antibiotic production by supernatant of a bacterial competitor, namely Pedobacter sp.. Experiments were performed in liquid as well as on semi-solid media under nutrient-limited conditions that are expected to most clearly reveal fitness costs. Our results did not reveal any significant costs for production of antibiotics by Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1. Comparison of growth rates of the antibioticproducing wild-type cells with those of non-antibiotic producing mutants did not reveal costs of antibiotic production either. Significance: Based on our findings we propose that the facultative production of antibiotics might not be selected to mitigate metabolic costs, but instead might be advantageous because it limits the risk of competitors evolving resistance, or even the risk of competitors feeding on the compounds produced.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere27266
JournalPLoS One
Volume6
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'No apparent costs for facultative antibiotic production by the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this