BIO 002

Microbial Interactions
BAMIDELE ODUMOSU, PhD

twitter: @bamideleodumosu
Email: [email protected]
+2348034515048
 MICROBIAL INTERACTION
• Biological interactions are the effects that organisms in a
community have on one another.

• There are completely different kinds of biological interactions which

incorporates interaction with different microbes,

• Plant-Germ interactions promoting plant growth, interaction with

animals, interaction with humans, and interaction with water, etc.
 MICROBIAL INTERACTION
• The microbial interaction between the same organisms is called
intraspecific interaction. Similarly, the microbial interaction
between the different organisms is known as interspecific
interaction

• Interspecific interaction is commonly studies because it occurs

between different organisms or different species
 MICROBIAL INTERACTION
• Microbial interaction is defined as the biological interaction where
one group of microorganisms interact with the other to establish
and maintain the relationship, which can be positive or negative.

• Microbial interactions are ubiquitous, diverse, critically important

in the function of any biological community, and are crucial in
global biogeochemistry.
 OBLIGATE VS FACULTATIVE
• Relationships can be obligate, meaning that one or both of the
symbionts entirely depend on each other for survival. They cannot
survive without each other.

• Relationship may be facultative, meaning that one or both of the

symbionts are not entirely depend on each other and they may live
independently
 MICROBIAL INTERACTION
Types of Microbial Interaction

• There are two types of interaction observed in microbial

community, and they are based on positive and negative affect on
the microorganisms involved.

Positive Microbial Interaction

Negative Microbial Interaction

INTERACTION
• It is the type of interaction, where both the
individuals interact or cooperate to establish a
positive relationship for each other’s mutual
benefit.

• In positive interaction, the organisms of two

different population can build a consistent and
obligatory relationship. Positive interaction is
divided into mutualism,

proto-cooperation, and commensalism

 Microbial Interaction
Negative Microbial Interaction

• It is the type of interaction between the two microbial populations,

in which the one population of the microorganisms is benefitted,
while the other is affected. One organism either attacks or inhibits
the other organisms for the survival and food source in a negative
interaction.
• Let us take a look at these two interactions in details by first of all
examining them one by one.
 POSITIVE MICROBIAL INTERACTION
• As previously stated, positive microbial interaction is characterized
by mutual benefits or at least one of them benefits and the other is
not harmed in anyway. These positive relationship has been divided
into three major types which are based on their peculiarities and
characteristics.
 POSITIVE MICROBIAL INTERACTION
• Mutualism or mutual interactions: is a type of microbial interaction in which
two microorganism interact together for the benefits of their existence. They
usually form an obligatory relationship which benefits both organisms.
Obligatory relationship in this sense means that both are committed to the
relationship and one action encourage the organisms. Their survival is
dependent on their cooperation in the relationship.

• Mutalism mostly occur intra-specifically i.e. between different organisms

 POSITIVE MICROBIAL INTERACTION
• Some of the features/characteristic of mutualism are following

The relationship is very specific between the organisms, i.e. the microorganisms
involved cannot be replaced by another species

They are usually metabolically dependent on each other either for growth, feeding
or shelter. i.e. an organism intake maybe a source of substrate for another organism

It requires close physical contact between interacting organisms

They usually create habitats that cannot be occupied by either species alone
because this interaction allows them to act as single organism
Examples of mutualism:

1. Fungi/Algae relationship

2. Protozoan /Termites relationship

3. Paramecium/Chlorella
1. Lichens

Lichens are excellent example of mutualism. Lichens are combination of fungi and

certain genus of algae that comes together to living in mutual symbiotic relationship. The

fungal partner is called mycoiont while the algae is called phycobiont.

Because the phycobiont (algae) are photoautotrophs (they have the ability to carry out

photosynthesis) while the fungi does not, however, the fungi has the ability to absorb

ultra violet rays and other extreme condition which are not possible for algae because it

can damage the algae cell.

1. Lichens
The two form a mutual association, the algae provides the food via
photosynthesis and the fungus get its organic carbon directly from the
algae and also serves as a protection for the algae against extreme
conditions. Lichen grow very slowly but are able to colonizes habitat
that do not permit the growth of other organisms.

• Most lichens are resistant to high temperature and drying due to

unfavourable weather condition
2. Protozoan-termite
• Protozoan-termite relationship is the classical example of mutualism in
which flagellated protozoan lives in the gut of termites. The termites diet
is mainly cellulose or ligin which need certain enzymes for quick
digestion in order to be assimilated into their cells for normal function.
• These flagellated protozoan feeds on cellulose or lignin diet of their host
termites, metabolizes it into acetic acid which is utilized by termites.
Both organism benefits from this relationship and it is under obligations
3. Paramecium-Chlorella
• Paramecium (protozoa) can host Chlorella (algae) within its cytoplasm
because protozoans are bigger in size than algae.
• The algae Chlorella provide the protozoan partner with organic carbon and
O2, in turn protozoa provide protection, motility, CO2 and other growth
factors.
• The presence of Chlorella within Paramecium helps to the protozoa to
survive in anaerobic condition as long as there is sufficient light while the
paramecium also provides growth factors and CO2 for algae survival.
 Protocooperation
• Photocooperation is another type of positive microbial interaction but
this is somewhat or slightly different from the first type which is also
known as Mutualism.

• In Photocooperation, the two organisms involved are also in association

and undergo mutual beneficial relationship with each other. Which is
similar to Mutualism but the relationships between the two organisms in
protocooperation is not obligatory as in mutualism
 Protocooperation
• Examples of Protocooperation:

• Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophillus, the

two bacteria are in symbiotic relationship together to produce metabolic
products that is important for their mutual growth.

• Streptococcus thermophillus produce pyruvic acid, formic acid, folic acid

which stimulate the growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus, while Lactobacillus
bulgaricus produce peptides, free amino acids which also stimulate the
growth of Streptococcus thermophilus
 Protocooperation
• Examples of Protocooperation:

Another example of this type of relationship is the association of

Cellulomonas and Azotobacter. Azotobacter uses glucose provided
by a cellulose-degrading microorganism such as Cellulomonas, which
uses the nitrogen fixed by Azotobacter

These interactions are beneficial but are not obligatory.

 Commensalism
• Commensalism is the third type of positive interaction among organisms. It is
a relationship in which one organism ( often referred to as a commensal) in
this association benefits while other organism (which is referred to as host) of
this association is neither benefited nor harmed.

• It is an unidirectional association and if the commensal is separated from the

host, it can survive. There is obligatory activities and there is means for
independence. The only time there is mutualism is whenever both organism
are in association and there is only one benefactor
 Examples of commensalism

i. Non-pathogenic Escherichia coli in intestinal tract of human:

The non-pathogenic E. coli is a facultative anaerobic bacteria (it can grow in the
absence or presence of oxygen) that resides in the gut of humans, it uses oxygen
and lower the O2 concentration in gut which creates suitable environment for
obligate anaerobes (they do not grow well in the presence of oxygen) such
as Bacteroides. E. coli is a host which remains unaffected by Bacteroides presence
nor benefits from the association but can also grow elsewhere rather than the
gut. Hence there is no obligatory no harmful situation
 Flavobacterium (host) and Legionella pneumophila (commensal):

• Flavobacterium excrete cystine which is used by Legionella

pneumophila and survive in aquatic habitat.
• Association of Nitrosomonas (host) and Nitrobacter (commensal) in
Nitrification:
• Nitrosomonas oxidize Ammonia into Nitrite and
finally Nitrobacter uses nitrite to obtain energy and oxidize it into
Nitrate.
 Negative interactions
Now let’s look at negative interactions, there are four types viz
 competition,
 parasitism,
 ammensalism, and
 predation
 Negative interactions – Competition
• Competition is a type of negative interaction, where two different
organisms compete with each other for the same resources. Due to
competition for the same resources, there is a limitation of resources by
which both the organisms are adversely affected.
• The competition between the same species’ organisms is called
intraspecific competition and the competition between the organisms of
different species is known as Interspecific competition. Therefore the effect
of the competition is negatively impacted, as a result of an interaction
 Negative interactions – Competition
• When two or more species use the same nutrients for growth, some of the
populations will be compromised. Competition between microbial species may
be attributed to availability of nitrogen source, carbon source, electron donors
and acceptors, vitamins, light, and water.

• Microbes also compete with their neighbors for space and resources.
Competition for a limiting nutrient among microorganisms leads to exclusion
of slower growing population.
 Negative interactions – Competition
• Examples Competition:

• The interaction between two protozoans Paramecium cadatum and

Paramecium aurelia for food source is by competition: Paramecium
cadatum and Paramecium aurelia compete for the same bacteria as a food
source.

• However, Paramcium aurelia overcomes Paramecium cadatum to survive

during this competition.
 Negative interactions – Competition
• Examples Competition:

• During decomposition of organic matter the increase in number and

activity of microorganisms put heavy demand on limited supply of
oxygen, nutrients, space, etc. The microbes with weak saprophytic
survival ability are unable to compete with other soil saprophytes for
these requirements
 Negative interactions – Predation
• Predation is a widespread phenomenon where the predator engulfs
or attacks the prey. In the world of eukaryotes, it is common that the
larger animal eats the smaller one; however, with microorganisms
the predator may be larger or smaller than the prey , and this
normally results in the death of the prey.

• Several of the best examples are Bdellovibrio, Vampirococcus, and

Daptobacter
 Negative interactions – Predation
• Examples: Bdellovibrio, Vampirococcus, and Daptobacter

• Each of these has a unique mode of attack against a susceptible bacterium.

(1) Epibiotic predator with growth on the surface of the prey. Example. –
Vampirococcus

(2) Periplasmic predator, with growth in between the inner and outer
membranes of bacteria. Example. Bdellovibrio

(3) Cytoplasmic predator, with growth in the cytoplasm of the prey.

Example. Daptobacter
 Negative interactions – Parasitism
• Parasitism occurs when one species obtains nutrients from another for
the purpose of cell growth or for survival purposes.

• Parasites display two types:

(1) direct lifecycle that does not require an intermediate host and

(2) indirect lifecycle that requires an intermediate host.

• In parasitism, one organism (parasite) benefits from another (host);

there is a degree of coexistence between the host and parasite that
 Parasitism – Types of parasitism
• Microbe-microbe parasitism

• Mycoparasitism (Fungus-Fungus Interaction)

• When one fungus is parasitized by the other fungus, this

phenomenon is called mycoparasitism.

• The parasitizing fungus is called hyper parasite and the parasitized

fungus as hypo parasite.
• Barnett and Binder (1973) divided mycoparasitism into (i) necrotrophic
parasitism, in which the relationships result in death of the host thallus, and
(ii) biotrophic parasitism, in which the development of the parasite is favored
by a living rather than a dead host structure.

• The antagonistic activity of necrotrophic mycoparasites is attributed to the

production of antibiotics, toxins, and hydrolytic enzymes. It is used as
biocontrol agent.

• Example – The fungal genus, Trichoderma produces enzymes such as

chitinases which degrade the cell walls of other fungi
 Parasitism – Types of parasitism
• Microbe-microbe parasitism
• Mycophagy
• Mycophagy or Fungivory is the process of organisms consuming
fungi.
• Bacterial mycophagy - mechanisms by which bacteria feed on fungi.
Ex.- Bacteria Aeromonas caviae feed on fungus Rhizoctonia solani
and Fusarium oxysporum.
• Many protozoans e.g. amoebae are also known to feed on
pathogenic fungi. The antagonistic soil amoebae example are
Saccamoeba, Vampyrella etc.
 Parasitism – Types of parasitism
• Microbe-microbe parasitism
• Bacterivores

• Bacterivores are free-living, generally heterotrophic organisms,

exclusively microscopic, which obtain energy and nutrients primarily
or entirely from the consumption of bacteria.

• Many species of amoeba are bacterivores, as well as other types of

protozoans. i.e. Vorticella
 Parasitism – Types of parasitism
• Microbe-microbe parasitism
• Bacteriophage

• A bacteriophage, also known as a phage, is a virus that infects and

replicates within Bacteria and Archaea.

• Phage enters the bacteria cell and compel the bacteria cell to
produce its own copies by using the host bacteria cell as metabolic
resources. In most cases the bacteria cell dies from rupture caused
by the bacteriophage
 Amensalism
• Amensalism is the negative effect that one organism has on another
organism. This is a unidirectional process based on the release of a
specific compound by one organism which has a negative effect on
another organism.

• A classic example of amensalism is the production of antibiotics

that can inhibit or kill a susceptible microorganism. Example. - the
destructive effect of the bread mold Penicillium on certain bacteria
by the secretion of penicillin.