Key Highlights
Biology · Cell Biology
This Review by Vasse and Velicer systematically explores the phylogenetic and functional diversity of microbial predators, introducing a conceptual framework that organizes predation along gradients of evolutionary adaptedness and privatization of prey-derived nutrients. The authors demonstrate that microbial predation exists on a continuum from opportunistic killing to highly specialized, obligate predation, with distinct molecular and ecological strategies employed across diverse bacterial and eukaryotic lineages. For the subscriber, this framework provides a critical lens for understanding how predatory interactions in microbial communities can influence cellular stress responses, including apoptosis and autophagy, which are central to tissue disruptions, fertility, and aging.
Novelty: 90%
Rigor: 92%
Significance: 88%
Validity: 95%
Clarity: 94%
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