Analysis of the membrane protein fraction from Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

The unique lifestyle of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is based on predation of gram-negative bacteria which serve as the sole source of nutrition. Two different stages characterise the Bdellovibrio life cycle: during the attack phase, predators are freely swimming in search of potential prey. Once a suitable host cell is identified, the Bdellovibrio enters the victim's periplasm. In the following intracellular growth phase, the Bdellovibrio elongates and replicates at the expense of the host cell until the resources are depleted.During the initial prey-host cell-cell interaction, machinery is required for adhesion, prey identification, and entry into the host cell. Collisions with cells and other surfaces occur randomly, and the first cell-cell contact is reversible, obviously to allow a closer inspection of the potential prey. Only when a prey bacterium is identified, the adhesion is rendered permanent and Bdellovibrio creates a pore into the victim's outer cell wall to enter the periplasm. The molecular nature of the mechanisms involved in the cell-cell interaction remains largely unknown. As substantial parts of this machinery are located in the cell wall, we are interested in its molecular components, such as lipopo§hp lysaccharides and membrane proteins.