Marine Bacteria Use Unique Weapons to Hunt Prey

Aureispira, a marine bacterium, employs grappling hooks and cannons to capture and consume other microorganisms when nutrients are scarce.

Aureispira is a filamentous marine bacterium that becomes predatory when nutrient levels in its environment drop.
The bacterium uses grappling hooks to immobilize its prey by entangling their flagella, preventing escape.
Aureispira's contractile injection systems, akin to cannons, puncture the prey's membrane, allowing it to absorb the released nutrients.
Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to study the molecular structure of Aureispira's predatory tools.
Understanding these bacterial mechanisms could inform future applications in combating algal blooms or delivering medicines.