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Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
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Killing niche competitors by remote-control bacteriophage induction.

Laura Selva1, David Viana, Gili Regev-Yochay

  • 1Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain.

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Streptococcus pneumoniae uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to kill Staphylococcus aureus by triggering the SOS response, which activates bacteriophages and causes bacterial lysis. This H2O2-mediated lysis is a novel bacterial competition strategy.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Competition
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Bacterial interspecies competition is crucial in microbial ecosystems.
  • Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a known bactericidal agent.
  • The mechanism by which Streptococcus pneumoniae displaces Staphylococcus aureus using H2O2 was previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism of H2O2-mediated killing of Staphylococcus aureus by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • To investigate the role of the SOS response in this interspecies competition.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of lysogenic and nonlysogenic Staphylococcus aureus strains to H2O2 produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • Monitoring of bacterial lysis and induction of the SOS response.
  • Analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae's resistance to H2O2-induced DNA damage.

Main Results:

  • H2O2 produced by S. pneumoniae induces the SOS response in lysogenic S. aureus, leading to prophage activation and cell lysis.
  • Nonlysogenic S. aureus strains are resistant to H2O2-induced killing.
  • S. pneumoniae is resistant to the DNA-damaging effects of H2O2, allowing it to survive.

Conclusions:

  • H2O2-induced SOS response and subsequent lysis of lysogenic bacteria is a novel mechanism for bacterial interference.
  • This strategy is effective against the majority of S. aureus strains.
  • The release of active phage may contribute to the spread of mobile genetic elements.