Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

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...

Bacterial Signaling

Bacterial Signaling

Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

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...

Types of RNA

Types of RNA

Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A genotoxin associated with colorectal cancer linked to gut dysbiosis in children with cystic fibrosis.

Journal of bacteriology·2026

Same author

The Structural Basis of Malodorant Skatole Formation by the Glycyl Radical Enzyme Indoleacetate Decarboxylase.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Chemiluminescent Probes Allow for the Rapid Identification of Colibactin-Producing Bacteria.

JACS Au·2026

Same author

A previously unappreciated class of metal-dependent bile salt hydrolases from the human gut microbiome.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Active Site Structure and Mechanism of a Molybdenum Catechol Dehydroxylase.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Colibactin produced by a honeybee symbiont defends against pathogens and shapes the gut community.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

Small molecules as modulators of phage-bacteria interactions.

Joel W H Wong¹, Emily P Balskus²

¹Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology

|December 30, 2024

Summary

Small molecules significantly influence bacteriophage (phage) behavior and bacterial defense. This review explores chemical cues in phage-bacteria interactions, impacting microbial ecology and evolution.

Keywords:

Anti-phage Phage Prokaryotic immunity Prophage induction Small molecules

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides

Published on: June 28, 2024

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides

Published on: June 28, 2024

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

Area of Science:

Microbial Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Bacteriophages (phages) are crucial in microbial ecosystems.
Phage-bacteria interactions are modulated by chemical signals from bacteria and the environment.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of small molecules in modulating phage behavior.
To highlight chemical cues influencing the phage lysis-lysogeny decision.
To examine small molecules as bacterial defenses against phage infection.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent research on phage-bacteria chemical signaling.
Analysis of studies on temperate phage responses to chemical cues.
Examination of small molecules that inhibit phage infection.

Main Results:

Temperate phages utilize diverse chemical cues for lysis-lysogeny decisions, including noncanonical signals.
Various small molecules can disrupt phage infection, acting as bacterial defense mechanisms.
Chemical signaling is central to phage-bacteria dynamics.

Conclusions:

Small molecules are key regulators of phage-bacteria interactions.
Understanding these molecular mechanisms offers insights into microbial community dynamics.
This research opens new avenues for exploring the chemical language of microbes.