Bacteria inhabiting competitive environments must simultaneously contend with rival bacteria and bacteriophage predators. Here, we show that Pantoea agglomerans, a species with both pathogenic and bio...

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Lomeli-Ortega et al. review how peptide-mediated arbitrium signaling enables communication both within and between bacteriophage populations, highlighting how viral crosstalk may influence phage competition, cooperation, and microbial community dynamics while creating opportunities for phage-based technologies.

To investigate the temporal dynamics and potential metabolic roles of bacteriophage communities in the marine plastisphere, we characterized phage community dynamics and phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) during a 21-day in situ experiment involving four plastic types. Phage communities differed significantly between the early (days 3–12) and late (days 15–21) stages, indicating distinct temporal shifts, whereas no significant differences were observed among polymer types. Changes in phage community composition in the plastisphere might be associated with bacterial host lineages. In particular, Vibrio phages were strongly associated with changes in host-Vibrios. In AMGs, nine metabolic categories comprising a total of nineteen detailed pathways were identified. AMGs associated with cofactor and vitamin metabolism were relatively enriched during the early stages, while sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism became more abundant during the late stages. These findings suggest that plastisphere-associated phages may be linked to microbial community succession and functional potential through dynamic host–phage associations.

To investigate the temporal dynamics and potential metabolic roles of bacteriophage communities in the marine plastisphere, we characterized phage community dynamics and phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) during a 21-day in situ experiment involving four plastic types. Phage communities differed significantly between the early (days 3–12) and late (days 15–21) stages, indicating distinct temporal shifts, whereas no significant differences were observed among polymer types. Changes in phage community composition in the plastisphere might be associated with bacterial host lineages. In particular, Vibrio phages were strongly associated with changes in host-Vibrios. In AMGs, nine metabolic categories comprising a total of nineteen detailed pathways were identified. AMGs associated with cofactor and vitamin metabolism were relatively enriched during the early stages, while sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism became more abundant during the late stages. These findings suggest that plastisphere-associated phages may be linked to microbial community succession and functional potential through dynamic host–phage associations.

AI models have written the genome of a working virus for the first time, though the ones that came alive attack only harmless lab bacteria

The global Bacteriophage Therapy Market is attracting growing attention as healthcare and research organizations explore bacteriophage-based approaches to bacterial infections. The market was valued at US$ 39.62 million in 2025 and is projected to reach US$ 63.55 million by 2034. According to The Insight Partners, the market is anticipated to register a compound annual growth rate of 6.08% during 2026 to 2034.