Phage integration alters the respiratory strategy of its host

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.49081
• Publication Date: 2019-10-23T12:44:39Z
• Authors: Jeffrey N Carey; Erin L Mettert; Daniel R Fishman-...; Manuela Roggiani; Patricia J Kiley; Mark Goulian
• Keywords: Prophage; Temperateness; Lysogen; Transduction (biophysics); Lysogenic cycle

Temperate bacteriophages are viruses that can incorporate their genomes into bacterial hosts, existing there as prophages refrain from killing the host cell until induced. Prophages largely quiescent, but they alter phenotype through factors encoded in (often virulence factors) or by disrupting genes a result of integration. Here we describe another mechanism which prophage modulate phenotype. We show temperate phage integrates Escherichia coli reprograms regulation an anaerobic respiratory system, thereby inhibiting bet hedging strategy. The exerts this effect upregulating host-encoded signal transduction protein transcription initiated phage-encoded promoter. further phenomenon occurs not only laboratory strain E. coli, also natural isolate contains at site.