Bacteria Borrow Viruses to Spread Their Own Defences
Pseudomonas fluorescens exposed to sterile compost filtrate acquired multiple mobile genetic elements carrying anti-phage defence genes
Advertisement
A team from the Max Planck Institute for evolutionary biology has discovered a new class of bacterial mobile genetic elements that use giant viruses—known as jumbo phages—to move between cells. The work, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), uncovers an unexpected twist in the long-running arms race between bacteria and their viruses. In the study, a common-or-garden bacterium was exposed to sterile filtrate from garden compost. The bacterium picked up several previously unknown DNA elements, each carrying genes that defend against phage infection. Remarkably, one of these elements, named I55, was found to hitch a ride on a jumbo phage, making it one of the first examples of a phage satellite exploiting such a large virus. The element not only spreads via the phage but also protects its bacterial host through a restriction–modification system—effectively allowing the bacterium to borrow viral machinery for its own benefit. “When a jumbo phage sequence appeared on screen, everything clicked into place,” says Yansong Zhao. “It explained how such a large element could move between cells.”
Mobile genetische Elemente nutzen einen Jumbo-Phagen zum Transfer zwischen Bakterienzellen. Dargestellt sind die Bakterien DNA in rot, die mobilen genetischen Elemente in grün und die Jumbo-Phagen in blau.
Yansong Zhao (created with Biorender.com and edited with ChatGPT)
“The discovery shows how much remains hidden in the natural world,” adds Paul Rainey. “Even in a handful of garden compost, there are layers of interaction we’ve only begun to uncover.” The study highlights the hidden diversity of mobile DNA in the environment and may eventually inform new biotechnological tools for transferring large genetic regions between bacteria.
Original publication
Other news from the department science
Most read news
More news from our other portals
Last viewed contents
Opening the door to affordable lab-grown beef, cow cells defy aging - A potential game-changer for creating sustainable, ethical meat without the environmental toll of traditional livestock farming
Synthesizing fine chemicals: Technological Advance in Production of Pharmaceuticals
Rentschler Biopharma announces largest single investment at its headquarters in Germany - Construction of a new buffer media station in Laupheim
Evotec announces sale of API manufacturing facility to Monacum Partners - New ownership committed to maintaining and growing the business
Ceva Animal Health invests in new 7,000 m² vaccine manufacturing facility to expand global production capacity
Daiichi Sankyo's investments in cancer drugs are taking shape - From Bavaria to the world: Daiichi Sankyo transfers technology for the development and production of antibody-drug conjugates to Germany
Waldner: Ground-breaking for new powder coating plant
Roche lays the foundation for the diagnostics production of the future in Germany - Investment of more than 600 million euros in a high-tech production center - Roche's largest single investment in Germany to date
ProBioGen expands protein and virus manufacturing to drive continued growth
Sensirion opens additional production building in Debrecen
Vetter Marks the Start of New Clinical Site Construction with Groundbreaking Ceremony - Vetter continues to expand in the US
