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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

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Viral Satellites Exploit Phage Proteins to Escape Degradation of the Bacterial Host Chromosome

Amelia C McKitterick1, Stephanie G Hays1, Fatema-Tuz Johura2

  • 1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 271 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe
|October 11, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Phage satellites like Vibrio cholerae

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) harbor phage defense systems.
  • Phage satellites are MGEs that propagate by hijacking phage replication cycles.
  • Vibrio cholerae possesses a phage satellite, PLE, that targets the lytic phage ICP1.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the co-evolutionary dynamics between the Vibrio cholerae phage satellite PLE and its target phage ICP1.
  • To understand how PLE exploits ICP1's genetic elements for its own replication and transmission.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of phage defense and counter-defense in this system.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic analysis of Vibrio cholerae and ICP1 isolates.
  • Experimental manipulation of PLE and ICP1 interactions.
  • Phage-mediated bacterial genome degradation assays.

Main Results:

  • ICP1 has evolved two distinct loci encoding SF1B-type helicases, both utilized by PLE for replication.
  • PLE's mobilization is crucial for its anti-phage activity, as its loss leads to phage-mediated bacterial genome degradation.
  • PLE effectively sabotages ICP1 replication, reducing phage production and protecting the host bacterium.

Conclusions:

  • PLE demonstrates remarkable adaptation to its target phage ICP1, exploiting specific genetic loci for its propagation.
  • The co-evolutionary arms race between phage and satellite involves intricate molecular mechanisms and genetic adaptations.
  • Understanding these interactions provides insights into phage-host dynamics and the evolution of mobile genetic elements.
Keywords:
Vibrio choleraecholeradefensehelicasemobile genetic elementparasitismphagereplicationsatellite

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