RRC ID 35780
著者 Iwai S, Fujiwara K, Tamura T.
タイトル Maintenance of algal endosymbionts in Paramecium bursaria: a simple model based on population dynamics.
ジャーナル Environ Microbiol
Abstract Algal endosymbiosis is widely distributed in eukaryotes including many protists and metazoans, and plays important roles in aquatic ecosystems, combining phagotrophy and phototrophy. To maintain a stable symbiotic relationship, endosymbiont population size in the host must be properly regulated and maintained at a constant level; however, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of algal endosymbionts are still largely unknown. Here we investigate the population dynamics of the unicellular ciliate Paramecium bursaria and its Chlorella-like algal endosymbiont under various experimental conditions in a simple culture system. Our results suggest that endosymbiont population size in P. bursaria was not regulated by active processes such as cell division coupling between the two organisms, or partitioning of the endosymbionts at host cell division. Regardless, endosymbiont population size was eventually adjusted to a nearly constant level once cells were grown with light and nutrients. To explain this apparent regulation of population size, we propose a simple mechanism based on the different growth properties (specifically the nutrient requirements) of the two organisms, and based from this develop a mathematical model to describe the population dynamics of host and endosymbiont. The proposed mechanism and model may provide a basis for understanding the maintenance of algal endosymbionts.
巻・号 18(8)
ページ 2435-45
公開日 2015-12-2
DOI 10.1111/1462-2920.13140
PMID 26625979
MeSH Cell Division / physiology Chlorella / cytology Chlorella / growth & development* Light Models, Theoretical* Paramecium / parasitology* Paramecium / physiology Phototrophic Processes / physiology* Population Density Population Dynamics Symbiosis / physiology*
IF 4.933
引用数 4
WOS 分野 MICROBIOLOGY
リソース情報
ゾウリムシ HA1g (PB034004A) HA3g (PB034005A) HA4g