Activity of Bdellovibrio hit locus proteins, Bd0108 and Bd0109, links Type IVa pilus extrusion/retraction status to prey-independent growth signalling.
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus are facultatively predatory bacteria that grow within gram-negative prey, using pili to invade their periplasmic niche.They also grow prey-independently on organic nutrients after undergoing a reversible switch.The nature of the growth switching mechanism has been elusive, but several independent reports read more suggest