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Bacterial capsules: no barrier against Bdellovibrio

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
²Fox Chase Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Research, 7701 Burholme Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA

ABSTRACT

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J attached to both capsulated and noncapsulated Escherichia coli K29 cells. Electron microscopy revealed penetration of the thick polysaccharide capsule without any major disintegration of the neighbouring capsular matrix. The capsule remained intact during bdelloplast formation and lysis was unaffected by capsulation of the prey cell. This study shows that, in contrast to its effect on bacteriophage penetration and its protective activities against immune defence mechanisms, the capsule of E. coli does not serve as a barrier against invasion by B. bacteriovorus.

^*Author for correspondence: Susan F. Koval. Tel: +1 519 661 3439. Fax: +1 519 661 3499. e-mail: skoval@julian.uwo.ca

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