Squid fishing publication:
Published in: Nature Reviews Microbiology 2, 632 -642 (2004)
THE WINNOWING: ESTABLISHING THE SQUIDââ¬âVIBRIO SYMBIOSIS
Spencer V. Nyholm & Margaret McFall-Ngai
Abstract
Most symbiotic associations between animals and microorganisms are horizontally transmitted ââ¬â the microorganisms are acquired from the environment by each generation of the host. How are exclusive partnerships established in the context of the thousands of other microbial species that are present in the environment? Similar to winnowing during a harvest, the symbiosis between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminous bacterial symbiont Vibrio fischeri involves a step-wise elimination of potential interlopers that ensures separation of the 'grain' from the 'chaff'.
Summary
* Symbiotic interactions that involve microorganisms are widespread, but just how the host and the microorganism come to co-exist is not well understood. The mechanisms that underlie this process are fascinating and have implications for the hostââ¬âpathogen relationship, as partner choice and pathogen interactions might overlap. Here, the authors use the association between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri ââ¬â studied for more then 15 years ââ¬â to illustrate the beauty and complexity of horizontally (environmentally) transmitted symbiotic associations.
* Chance encounters do not precede symbiotic development: the authors review how the host enriches its local environment with the symbiont populations from which newly hatched juvenile hosts will become colonized.
* After the initial encounter, which can be within a few seconds of the squid-egg hatching, the symbiont is selected from the plethora of microorganisms present, akin to sorting the wheat from the chaff. These processes are reviewed, and include the roles of ciliary currents and mucus in colonization of the nascent squid light organ.
* Following establishment of the association, Vibrio fischeri induces a series of developmental changes which help transform the host's light organ from one poised to initiate symbiosis to a mature, functional light organ. The changes in the organ are described, together with some of the bacterial factors involved.
* Host factors might include defence functions, which are activated on encountering a microorganism. The authors include a description of what is known about squid immune functions and the bacterial mutants that have been studied in an attempt to dissect the colonization process. Bacterial phenotypes that affect colonization include motility, oxidative stress defences and lipid synthesis.
* Finally, the exciting impact of genomics on this partnership is discussed: not only is the Vibrio fischeri genome now complete, an extensive squid EST collection is available. Data mining, together with microarrays, will further our understanding of how this exclusive partnership is established and maintained.
Published in: Nature Reviews Microbiology 2, 632 -642 (2004)
THE WINNOWING: ESTABLISHING THE SQUIDââ¬âVIBRIO SYMBIOSIS
Spencer V. Nyholm & Margaret McFall-Ngai
Abstract
Most symbiotic associations between animals and microorganisms are horizontally transmitted ââ¬â the microorganisms are acquired from the environment by each generation of the host. How are exclusive partnerships established in the context of the thousands of other microbial species that are present in the environment? Similar to winnowing during a harvest, the symbiosis between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminous bacterial symbiont Vibrio fischeri involves a step-wise elimination of potential interlopers that ensures separation of the 'grain' from the 'chaff'.
Summary
* Symbiotic interactions that involve microorganisms are widespread, but just how the host and the microorganism come to co-exist is not well understood. The mechanisms that underlie this process are fascinating and have implications for the hostââ¬âpathogen relationship, as partner choice and pathogen interactions might overlap. Here, the authors use the association between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri ââ¬â studied for more then 15 years ââ¬â to illustrate the beauty and complexity of horizontally (environmentally) transmitted symbiotic associations.
* Chance encounters do not precede symbiotic development: the authors review how the host enriches its local environment with the symbiont populations from which newly hatched juvenile hosts will become colonized.
* After the initial encounter, which can be within a few seconds of the squid-egg hatching, the symbiont is selected from the plethora of microorganisms present, akin to sorting the wheat from the chaff. These processes are reviewed, and include the roles of ciliary currents and mucus in colonization of the nascent squid light organ.
* Following establishment of the association, Vibrio fischeri induces a series of developmental changes which help transform the host's light organ from one poised to initiate symbiosis to a mature, functional light organ. The changes in the organ are described, together with some of the bacterial factors involved.
* Host factors might include defence functions, which are activated on encountering a microorganism. The authors include a description of what is known about squid immune functions and the bacterial mutants that have been studied in an attempt to dissect the colonization process. Bacterial phenotypes that affect colonization include motility, oxidative stress defences and lipid synthesis.
* Finally, the exciting impact of genomics on this partnership is discussed: not only is the Vibrio fischeri genome now complete, an extensive squid EST collection is available. Data mining, together with microarrays, will further our understanding of how this exclusive partnership is established and maintained.