Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
07:19
Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides
Published on: June 28, 2024
1.1K
Structural basis for Salmonella infection by two Microviridae phages
Wanlong Hu1, Zhengjie Liu2, Yuming Wei1
1Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
Communications Biology
|August 6, 2025
Summary
Two novel Microviridae phages, PJNS001 and PJNS002, were structurally characterized. Their unique mechanisms offer a framework for developing phage therapy against multidrug-resistant Salmonella.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Structural Biology
- Virology
Background:
- The rise of multidrug-resistant Salmonella necessitates novel antimicrobial approaches like phage therapy.
- Microviridae phages are valuable models for understanding phage-host interactions due to their distinct mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and structurally characterize novel Microviridae phages.
- To elucidate the structural basis of phage-host interactions and specificity.
Main Methods:
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was used to determine the structures of two Microviridae phages.
- Structural analysis and in situ visualization were employed to study phage-host interactions.
Main Results:
- The cryo-EM structures of phages PJNS001 and PJNS002 were determined at high resolution (2.68 Å and 2.59 Å).
- A unique vertex reinforcement mechanism was identified, stabilizing the icosahedral T=1 capsids.
- Specific pentameric adaptations and DNA binding protein interactions were found to prevent hybrid virion formation.
- Spike protein features and host-attachment intermediates were revealed, informing host specificity.
Conclusions:
- These findings provide a detailed structural understanding of Microviridae infection mechanisms.
- The study offers a structural framework for the rational design of phages as therapeutic agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Related Concept Videos
01:26DNA Bacteriophages
149
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
149
01:30Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages
72.0K
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...
72.0K
00:43Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages
63.2K
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...
63.2K
01:20Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle
256
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
256
01:16Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle
243
The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects...
243
01:29Viruses of Archaea
78
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
78