[Influence of different prey strains on isolation myxobacteria in saline-alkaline soils of Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: We isolated myxobacteria in saline-alkaline soils of Xinjiang using a prey-predator strategy where the prey bacteria can induce the predator myxobacteria to form visible fruiting body, and evaluated intrinsic relationships between prey and predator myxobacteria. METHODS: Sixteen bacteria with inductive effects of fruiting body formation were obtained, and then used as preys to isolate the myxobacteria. RESULTS: A total of 55 myxobacteria strains were isolated from 25 soil samples, which were identified to the genera of Myxococcus, Corallococcus, Pyxidicoccus, Cystobacter, and Nannocystis. Besides, 6 unpurified isolates were believed to be myxobacteria. All the 16 prey bacteria had preferable inductive effects on Myxococcus spp., whereas Pyxidicoccus spp. and Cystobacter spp. were only induced by Gram-positive strains. CONCLUSION: The prey-predator strategy provided a new and more effective way to isolate myxobacteria.