Protein composition of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and Escherichia coli membranes during their interaction.

A comparative study of membrane proteins of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and host-bacteria Escherichia coli was performed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. Infection of E. coli cells by bdellovibrions resulted in the loss of some high-molecular proteins and appearance of new ones in the host-bacteria membranes. The possible role of parasite proteases in degradation of host-bacteria membrane proteins is discussed.