[Expanded model of lambda phage ontogeny]

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Systems Biology
• Computational Biology

Context:

• Bacteriophage lambda is a model organism for studying gene regulation and viral development.
• Understanding phage-host interactions is crucial for controlling bacterial infections and developing phage therapy.
• Previous models have simplified the complex regulatory network governing phage lambda's life cycle.

Purpose:

• To develop an enlarged threshold model of the regulatory system of development of lambda phage (RSDP lambda-2).
• To simulate and describe the dynamics of proteins, mRNAs, and DNA during phage lambda's lytic and lysogenic lifecycles.
• To investigate the relationship between phage infection multiplicity and the rate of lysogenic response.

Summary:

• The RSDP lambda-2 model incorporates 15 synthetic blocks for proteins/mRNAs and 4 for ontogenetic processes (replication, integration, exclusion, lysis).
• Computer simulations of the model accurately describe the concentration dynamics of key molecules in both lytic and lysogenic pathways.
• The model predicts a maximum lysogenic response at a specific mean multiplicity of infection, aligning with experimental findings.

Impact:

• Provides a comprehensive computational tool for studying phage lambda regulatory networks.
• Enhances understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying phage-host interactions.
• Offers insights into optimizing phage therapy strategies by predicting infection outcomes.