How Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus became a model for invasive bacterial predation.

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus has evolved a complex intrabacterial predatory lifestyle, enabling it to rapidly hunt, invade, and consume gram-negative bacteria.

• Why it matters: Understanding this predator’s molecular mechanisms can reveal insights into bacterial interactions and potentially lead to novel antimicrobial strategies.
• What they did: Genomic and enzymological studies have identified proteins and enzymes involved in prey manipulation, with recent research focusing on predator-prey interactions and molecular regulation.
• The result: These findings highlight B. bacteriovorus’s sophisticated predatory processes and suggest its potential application in controlling pathogenic bacteria, driving future biological and therapeutic research.