Alteromonas macleodii breaches the diatom frustule triggering protoplast emergence and programmed necrosis-like death in Thalassiosira rotula

A common ocean bacteria can break open the hard glass-like shell of a tiny algae called a diatom. Within 72 hours, more than 95% of the algae cells were forced out of their broken shells and left exposed. Once outside, the naked cells died in a controlled way, similar to how damaged cells self destruct in other living things. At the same time, the bacteria turned on genes for swimming toward and feeding on the dying algae.

Lab cultures only, not open ocean, no real-world rate shown.

Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 28 September 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (Nature Communications). Read the source

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