Bacteria inhibit and kill one another with a diverse array of compounds, including bacteriocins and antibiotics. These attacks are highly regulated, but we lack a clear understanding of the evolutionary logic underlying this regulation. Here, we combine a detailed dynamic model of bacterial competition with evolutionary game theory to study the rules of bacterial warfare. We model a large range of possible combat strategies based upon the molecular biology of bacterial regulatory networks. Our model predicts that regulated strategies, which use quorum sensing or stress responses to regulate toxin production, will readily evolve as they outcompete constitutive toxin production. Amongst regulated strategies, we show that a particularly successful strategy is to upregulate toxin production in response to an incoming competitor’s toxin, which can be achieved via stress responses that detect cell damage (competition sensing). Mirroring classical game theory, our work suggests a fundamental advantage to reciprocation. However, in contrast to classical results, we argue that reciprocation in bacteria serves not to promote peaceful outcomes but to enable efficient and effective attacks.

中文翻译：

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通过调节细菌素和抗生素进行细菌战策略的演变

细菌通过多种化合物相互抑制和杀死，包括细菌素和抗生素。这些攻击受到高度监管，但我们对这种监管背后的进化逻辑缺乏清晰的理解。在这里，我们将细菌竞争的详细动态模型与进化博弈论相结合，研究细菌战争的规则。我们基于细菌调节网络的分子生物学模拟了大量可能的战斗策略。我们的模型预测，使用群体感应或压力反应来调节毒素产生的受监管策略将很容易进化，因为它们在竞争中胜过组成型毒素产生。在受监管的策略中，我们表明一个特别成功的策略是针对即将到来的竞争对手的毒素上调毒素的产生，这可以通过检测细胞损伤（竞争传感）的应激反应来实现。反映经典博弈论，我们的工作表明了互惠的基本优势。然而，与经典结果相反，我们认为细菌中的交互作用不是促进和平结果，而是实现高效和有效的攻击。