Marine tubeworm metamorphosis induced by arrays of bacterial phage tail-like structures

Science. 2014 Jan 31;343(6170):529-33. doi: 10.1126/science.1246794. Epub 2014 Jan 9.

Abstract

Many benthic marine animal populations are established and maintained by free-swimming larvae that recognize cues from surface-bound bacteria to settle and metamorphose. Larvae of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans, an important biofouling agent, require contact with surface-bound bacteria to undergo metamorphosis; however, the mechanisms that underpin this microbially mediated developmental transition have been enigmatic. Here, we show that a marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea, produces arrays of phage tail-like structures that trigger metamorphosis of H. elegans. These arrays comprise about 100 contractile structures with outward-facing baseplates, linked by tail fibers and a dynamic hexagonal net. Not only do these arrays suggest a novel form of bacterium-animal interaction, they provide an entry point to understanding how marine biofilms can trigger animal development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aquatic Organisms / growth & development
  • Aquatic Organisms / microbiology
  • Bacteriocins / genetics
  • Bacteriocins / metabolism*
  • Bacteriophages / ultrastructure
  • Biofilms*
  • Genes, Bacterial / physiology
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / microbiology
  • Metamorphosis, Biological*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Polychaeta / growth & development*
  • Polychaeta / microbiology*
  • Pseudoalteromonas / genetics
  • Pseudoalteromonas / physiology*
  • Pseudoalteromonas / virology*
  • Viral Tail Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Tail Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Bacteriocins
  • Viral Tail Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KF724687
  • GENBANK/KF724688
  • GENBANK/KF724689