Nature Communications (Aug 2017)

Nutrient limitation determines the fitness of cheaters in bacterial siderophore cooperation

  • D. Joseph Sexton,
  • Martin Schuster

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00222-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Cooperative behaviour among individuals provides a collective benefit, but is considered costly. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model system, the authors show that secretion of the siderophore pyoverdine only incurs a fitness cost and favours cheating when its building blocks carbon or nitrogen are growth-limiting.