Bacteria-induced production of an antibacterial sesquiterpene in Coprinopsis cinerea
In a recent Molecular Microbiology paper, the Künzler group (IMB) shows that the vegetative mycelium of the ink cap mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea is able to sense bacteria by not yet identified secreted bacterial compounds and respond by the production of an antibiotic.
Filamentous fungi depend on chemical defense to protect themselves from predators and competitors. Production of defense chemicals has a fitness cost, however, and is therefore often strictly regulated. In their paper, the Künzler group shows, in collaboration with the Piel and de Mello groups, that the production of an antibiotic by the vegetative mycelium of an ink cap mushroom can be triggered by bacteria. The fungus senses the bacteria by yet to be identified compounds that are secreted by the bacteria. These results suggest that fungi, similar to animals and plants, have means to recognize antagonists and mount a respective defense response.
Link to the paper in external page Molecular Microbiology.