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Bacterial predator-prey coevolution accelerates genome evolution and selects on virulence-associated prey defences

Author

Listed:
  • Ramith R. Nair

    (Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich)

  • Marie Vasse

    (Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich)

  • Sébastien Wielgoss

    (Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich)

  • Lei Sun

    (Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Yuen-Tsu N. Yu

    (Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich)

  • Gregory J. Velicer

    (Institute for Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich)

Abstract

Generalist bacterial predators are likely to strongly shape many important ecological and evolutionary features of microbial communities, for example by altering the character and pace of molecular evolution, but investigations of such effects are scarce. Here we report how predator-prey interactions alter the evolution of fitness, genomes and phenotypic diversity in coevolving bacterial communities composed of Myxococcus xanthus as predator and Escherichia coli as prey, relative to single-species controls. We show evidence of reciprocal adaptation and demonstrate accelerated genomic evolution specific to coevolving communities, including the rapid appearance of mutator genotypes. Strong parallel evolution unique to the predator-prey communities occurs in both parties, with predators driving adaptation at two prey traits associated with virulence in bacterial pathogens—mucoidy and the outer-membrane protease OmpT. Our results suggest that generalist predatory bacteria are important determinants of how complex microbial communities and their interaction networks evolve in natural habitats.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramith R. Nair & Marie Vasse & Sébastien Wielgoss & Lei Sun & Yuen-Tsu N. Yu & Gregory J. Velicer, 2019. "Bacterial predator-prey coevolution accelerates genome evolution and selects on virulence-associated prey defences," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-12140-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12140-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Amandine Nucci & Eduardo P. C. Rocha & Olaya Rendueles, 2022. "Adaptation to novel spatially-structured environments is driven by the capsule and alters virulence-associated traits," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.

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