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In nature, interspecific competition phenomena (between organisms of different species) are very common, since each and every one of the organisms tries to survive and have as few biological rivals as possible. One of the most prominent effects within these biological competition relationships is antibiosis. Antibiotics, which are directly related to the world of antibiosis, appear as intermediaries between the position of pathogenic organisms that try to kill their competitors and those organisms that are harmed within the biological competition. These and many other functions are related to the importance and effectiveness of antibiotics, which are used every day for therapeutic purposes to combat diseases in humans, animals and plants.
Continue reading this article by Ecologist Verde and you will learn in more detail all about the antibiosis, its definition and examples.
What is antibiosis: definition
The term antibiosis It is used to define all that interaction that occurs between two organisms of different species, in which one of them is harmful and harmful to the other, since it produces a substance that is harmful to the other species. It is, therefore, a biological interaction in which there is no possibility of survival at the same time of certain organisms in the vicinity of others. The harmful effect of all antibiosis is due to the action of a harmful chemical produced by the body that wants to end its competition. This substance is called antibiotic.
In the next section we will see in more detail different examples of antibiosis that occur in nature, as well as some of the most common and striking antibiotics.
Antibiosis: examples
Both in nature and in laboratories, various antibiosis processes lead to the generation of new and complex antibiotics. These substances are capable of paralyzing development or causing death to those microorganisms that are potentially pathogenic, having bacteriostatic or bactericidal action, respectively.
We see below some of the examples of antibiosis between organisms of different groups and species, both between animals and higher plants, such as microorganisms:
- The fungus Penicillium secretes a harmful substance that prevents the life of other microorganisms around it.
- Many and diverse host insects and plants from which they feed.
- Bacteria like Erwinia amylovora when attacking pear trees (genus Pyrus) and apples (Malus domestica)
- Relationship between humans, livestock and poultry with different disease-causing pathogens, such as the bacteria of the genera Bacillus, Streptomyces and Pseudomonas, as well as various types of mushrooms: Candida oleophila, genera Gliocaldium and Tricoderma, Myrothecium verrucaria Y Ampelomyces quisqualis.
As we have already mentioned, antibiotics are very present in nature and not only in laboratories that produce medicines. In this other Green Ecologist article you can find out which are the best natural antibiotics.
What is resistance to antibiosis
Thanks to the "memory" of the different antibodies that constitute the immune system of organisms, they are able to effectively recognize the presence of bacteria and pathogens that have previously infected the body of the affected animal or plant; thus generating, over time, a antibiotic resistance used by the competing pathogen.
In this way, both humans and other animals and plants that are affected by antibiotics from insects and other plants, we have developed various resistance to harmful chemicals that served to kill pathogenic bacteria.
Therefore, the world of antibiosis and antibiotics it constantly "reinvents itself", as if it were a marathon of resistance, challenging pathogens and resistance. It is really surprising how these reactions occur in the organisms of animals and plants in an almost intuitive way, adapting to new conditions and risks of pathogenicity and diseases in order to survive.
Learn more about antibiosis and other interspecific relationships, their types and examples with this other Green Ecologist article.
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Bibliography- Harold, C. (1992) The crisis in Antibiotic Resistance. Science, Volume 257, pages 1064-1073.
- Davies, J. & Davies, D. (2010) Origins and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance. American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Journal.
- Delgado, R. et al., (2014) Antibiosis, genesis and component of probiotics; two imperishable concepts. Gale OneFile: Academic Report, Journal of Animal Production. Volumen 26 (3)
- Cantón, R. (2002) Interpreted reading of the antibiogram: intellectual exercise or clinical need? ELSEVIER Magazine: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology. Volume 20 (4), pp: 176-186.
- Levy, S. B. (1998) The Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance. Scientific American, Volume 278 (3), pages 46-53.
