The Predatory Bacteria Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus LR3: A Potential Biocontrol Agent Against Gram-Negative Pathogenic Microorganisms

The paper describes a predatory Gram-negative bacterium from the genus <i>Bdellovibrio</i>, which was isolated from water of the Lyubozhikha River. As revealed by electron microscopy, the bacterium is an intracellular predator of Gram-negative microorganisms. Its prey range includes <i>Pseudomonas tolaasii</i>, the phytopathogen responsible for brown spot disease in the cultivated button mushroom (<i>Agaricus bisporus</i>). Based on the results of a <i>16S rRNA</i> gene sequence analysis, the bacterium was identified as <i>Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus</i> strain LR3. We characterized the predator-prey dynamics between <i>B. bacteriovorus</i> LR3 and <i>P. tolaasii</i>, determining the optimal temperature and pH conditions for this interaction. Our results demonstrate the potential of <i>B. bacteriovorus</i> LR3 as a biocontrol agent against <i>P. tolaasii</i> in mushroom cultivation. The possibility of using <i>B. bacteriovorus</i> LR3 against clinical cases <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Escherichia</i> infections is also addressed.