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...

YouTube video by Anson Call

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

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.

HIDEN-SEQ (hidden Acr-enabled transposon-insertion sequencing) is a transposon-insertion sequencing method for phages that systematically links their genes to selectable phenotypes.

WASHINGTON — Nearly 7 years’ worth of data from the national bacteriophage therapy program showed that phage therapy is well tolerated and effective, leading researchers to suggest moving from single-...

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.