Characteristics and Significance of the Association of Bdellovibrios with Surfaces in Aquatic Environments

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Bdellovibrio is unique among procaryotes in its obligate parasitism and predation of certain other bacteria. Since predation by Bdellovibrio destroys the prey bacterium, it has been postulated that the predator may function as a biological control agent. This view is not universally accepted and the role of Bdellovibrio in nature remains a mystery. The small size and low numbers of Bdellovibrio in the aquatic environments previously studied have exacerbated ecological investigations of the predator. Studies by Dr. WIlliams have revealed that Bdellovibrio are recovered in large numbers from surface biofilm. The nature of the association of the predators with surfaces is the basis for this study. The objectives are: I) to determine the nature of the association of Bdellovibrio with surfaces and those environmental factors which affect the association. II) to characterize the effects of Bdellovibrio on the formation and integrity of surface biofilms and III) to demonstrate the usefulness of surface microbial biofilm as a model for the study of Bdellovibrio. The interaction of Bdellovibrio with other biofilm bacteria may reveal the potential of the predator in the control of susceptible bacterial populations.