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Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

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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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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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The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
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The genome of most prokaryotic organisms consists of double-stranded DNA organized into one circular chromosome in a region of cytoplasm called the nucleoid. The chromosome is tightly wound, or supercoiled, for efficient storage. Prokaryotes also contain other circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. These plasmids are smaller than the chromosome and often carry genes that confer adaptive functions, such as antibiotic resistance.
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Bacteriophage specificity is impacted by interactions between bacteria.

Ave T Bisesi1, Wolfram Möbius2,3, Carey D Nadell4

  • 1Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Msystems
|February 20, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacterial interactions shape bacteriophage (phage) predator strategies. Competing bacteria favor generalist phages, while mutualistic bacteria favor specialists, influencing microbial community structure and phage evolution.

Keywords:
bacteriophagescompetitionmicrobial communitiesmicrobial ecologymutualismvirus-host interactions

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and play a crucial role in structuring microbial communities.
  • The specificity of phages—whether they are generalists infecting multiple bacterial species or specialists infecting one—has significant ecological implications.
  • Understanding the factors that drive phage specificity is essential for predicting their impact on microbial ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how interactions between bacterial prey influence the evolution of bacteriophage specificity (generalism vs. specialism).
  • To determine if mathematical models can predict phage strategy based on prey ecology.
  • To experimentally test the model's predictions using a synthetic microbial community.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a phenomenological mathematical model of phage and bacterial population dynamics.
  • Created an in vitro experimental system with interacting strains of *Escherichia coli* and *Salmonella enterica*.
  • Competed a generalist T5-like phage against an *S. enterica*-specific phage (P22vir) in the experimental system.

Main Results:

  • Mathematical modeling indicated that generalist phages are favored when prey bacteria compete, while specialists dominate when prey engage in cross-feeding.
  • Experimental results supported the model's predictions, showing that prey interactions significantly influence phage strategy.
  • Observed that phage degradation and bacterial physiology also impact the optimal phage strategy, suggesting complex trade-offs for generalism.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial interactions are a key factor shaping ecological selection on bacteriophage specificity in lytic systems.
  • The study highlights the diverse mechanisms underlying fitness trade-offs in phage evolution.
  • Findings enhance understanding of microbial community dynamics and inform potential phage-based strategies for managing infections.