Scientists describe a new mechanism impacting the phage-bacterial arms race, a nanosized epibiotic parasite, TM7x, which helps its host bacterium (a Schaalia odontolytica strain called XH001) achieve resistance to lytic phages.
Scientists describe a new mechanism impacting the phage-bacterial arms race, a nanosized epibiotic parasite, TM7x, which helps its host bacterium achieve resistance to lytic phages.
Most reported phage-resistance mechanisms involve mutations of phage receptors on the bacteria's surface structures. Phages likewise have evolved counter-defensive genetic changes to adapt to these barriers. The parasite, in contrast, causes a physiological change to the host bacteria, which changes gene expression but not the genetic makeup of the bacteria.
In this context, the TM7x ultimately helps the phage and bacteria to coexist by creating a sink-source dynamic: the bacteria without TM7x can continue to be available to the phage, while the bacteria with the parasite resist phages. These bacteria can continue to reproduce a supply for phage consumption while protecting themselves from the lytic phage by forming symbiotic relationship with TM7x.
Phages are viruses that infect bacteria and can also be used to treat human infections. However, as with antibiotics, bacteria can readily evolve resistance to phage attack, highlighting a key ...
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