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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...
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Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

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In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
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Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
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Phage Tail-Like Bacteriocins.

Dean Scholl1

  • 1AvidBiotics Corp., South San Francisco, California 94080; email: dean@avidbiotics.com , dscholl@usa.net.

Annual Review of Virology
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacterial viruses (phages) possess tail structures that share evolutionary links with bacterial secretion systems. Phage tail-like bacteriocins (PTLBs) are diverse agents with therapeutic potential against bacterial infections.

Keywords:
MyoviridaeSiphoviridaeantibacterialbacteriocincontractile nanotube

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial viruses (phages) utilize long tail structures for DNA delivery.
  • These phage tails share evolutionary origins with bacterial secretion systems like type VI secretion systems, insecticidal protein complexes, and bacteriocins.
  • Phage tail-like bacteriocins (PTLBs) are a distinct class of bactericidal agents found widely in bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the history, biology, and diversity of phage tail-like bacteriocins (PTLBs).
  • To explore the evolutionary relationships between phage tails and bacterial protein-penetrating systems.
  • To discuss the therapeutic applications of PTLBs in combating bacterial diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of phage biology and bacteriocin research.
  • Comparative analysis of structural and functional similarities between phage tails and bacterial systems.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on PTLB classification and mechanisms of action.

Main Results:

  • PTLBs are classified into R-type (related to contractile Myoviridae phage tails) and F-type (related to noncontractile Siphoviridae phage tails).
  • These entities likely evolved independently, reflecting diverse adaptations for bacterial envelope penetration.
  • PTLBs represent a promising avenue for developing novel antibacterial therapeutics.

Conclusions:

  • Phage tail structures and bacterial secretion systems exhibit significant evolutionary convergence.
  • PTLBs are a versatile group of natural antibiotics with potential for clinical use.
  • Further research into PTLBs could lead to new strategies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.