Phages carry interbacterial weapons encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.046
• Publication Date: 2021-06-28T14:40:47Z
• Authors: Anna Dragoš; Aaron J.C. Andersen; Carlos N. Lozano-...; Paul J. Kempen; Ákos T. Kovács; Mikael Lenz Strube
• Keywords: Prophage; Temperateness; Horizontal Gene Transfer; Lysogenic cycle

Bacteria produce diverse specialized metabolites that mediate ecological interactions and serve as a rich source of industrially relevant natural products. Biosynthetic pathways for these are encoded by organized groups genes called biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Understanding the function distribution BGCs provides insight into mechanisms through which microorganisms interact compete. Further, understanding is extremely important biocontrol mining new bioactivities. Here, we investigated phage-encoded (pBGCs), challenging relationship between phage origin BGC structure function. The results demonstrated pBGCs rare, they predominantly reside within temperate phages infecting commensal or pathogenic bacterial hosts. vast majority were found to encode bacteriocins. Using soil- gut-associated bacterium Bacillus subtilis, experimentally how equips with fully functional BGC, providing clear competitive fitness advantage over ancestor. Moreover, similar transfer same in prophage form. Finally, using genetic genomic comparisons, strong association pBGC type host range was revealed. These findings suggest bacteriocins few genera. In cases, lysogenic conversion an evolutionary benefit infected and, hence, itself. This study step toward role compounds BGCs, driving their horizontal transfer, sometimes mutualistic bacteria phages.