The community ecology of Vibrio cholerae
The community ecology of Vibrio cholerae
Vibrio cholerae, the causal agent of cholera, is a heterotrophic bacterium found in aquatic environments around the world. Although understanding the ecology of V. cholerae is still in its infancy, community interactions likely play a key role in determining its abundance and disease outbreaks. For example, V. cholerae occurs both in a free-living state and when attached to phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates. Parasitic or mutualistic interactions with host organisms influence bacterial survival in adverse conditions and have major effects on transmission to humans. Abundances can also be altered directly via interactions with predators and competitors, or indirectly if higher trophic levels alter the density or composition of predators or potential hosts for attachment. Thus, this system illustrates the importance of both direct and indirect biotic interactions for disease dynamics.
Keywords: cholera, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic, parasite, mutualist, predator, competitor, aquatic, community
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