Reciprocal cross-feeding between bacteria can limit the emergence of metabolic dependencies
Ying-Chih Chuang, Megan G. Behringer, Gillian Patton, Jordan T. Bird, Jeffrey L. Mazny, Jennifer R. Gliessman, Crystal E. Love, Ankur B. Dalia, James B. McKinlay
This study compares mutation accumulation in bacterial monocultures and cocultures, finding that cross-feeding can limit rather than promote metabolic dependencies.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology · May 12, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology