Communication Among Phages, Bacteria, and Soil Environments

Abedon, Stephen T.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-14512-4_2

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 116 publications

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“…They can multiply only in bacterial cells, and therefore may be active at the site of infection, where pathogenic bacteria are present. It is estimated that in the biosphere bacteriophages are 10 times more frequent than bacterial cells (Abedon, 2011 ). They are commonly found in the biosphere (Lin et al, 2010 ; Zhan et al, 2015 ) and human and animal organisms (Keller and Traub, 1974 ; Caroli et al, 1980 ; Gantzer et al, 2002 ; Bachrach et al, 2003 ; Reyes et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Bacteriophagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects of Phage Application in the Treatment of Acne Caused by Propionibacterium acnes

et al. 2017

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Propionibacterium acnes is associated with purulent skin infections, and it poses a global problem for both patients and doctors. Acne vulgaris (acne) remains a problem due to its chronic character and difficulty of treatment, as well as its large impact on patients' quality of life. Due to the chronic course of the disease, treatment is long lasting, and often ineffective. Currently there are data regarding isolation of P. acnes phages, and there have been numerous studies on phage killing of P. acnes, but no data are available on phage application specifically in acne treatment. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge on the phages active against P. acnes described so far and their potential application in the treatment of acne associated with P. acnes. The treatment of acne with phages may be important in order to reduce the overuse of antibiotics, which are currently the main acne treatment. However, more detailed studies are first needed to understand phage functioning in the skin microbiome and the possibility to use phages to combat P. acnes.

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Section: Bacteriophagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects of Phage Application in the Treatment of Acne Caused by Propionibacterium acnes

et al. 2017

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“…Thus, while biofilm or microcolony maturation should coincide more or less with an increase in surface-associated biomass, a phage focus of infection, due to phage-induced lysis as well as additional hydrolytic activity, should by contrast coincide with a decline in surface-associated bacterial biomass. Indeed, more generally, a key phage ecological function is their contribution to decomposition within environments [ 58 ], particularly to initiation of the mineralization of what prior to phage infection instead are intact bacteria.…”

Section: Theory Of Phage-biofilm Ecological Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of Anti-Biofilm Agents II: Bacteriophage Exploitation and Biocontrol of Biofilm Bacteria

Abedon

2015

Pharmaceuticals

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Bacteriophages are the viruses of bacteria. In the guise of phage therapy they have been used for decades to successfully treat what are probable biofilm-containing chronic bacterial infections. More recently, phage treatment or biocontrol of biofilm bacteria has been brought back to the laboratory for more rigorous assessment as well as towards the use of phages to combat environmental biofilms, ones other than those directly associated with bacterial infections. Considered in a companion article is the inherent ecological utility of bacteriophages versus antibiotics as anti-biofilm agents. Discussed here is a model for phage ecological interaction with bacteria as they may occur across biofilm-containing ecosystems. Specifically, to the extent that individual bacterial types are not highly abundant within biofilm-containing environments, then phage exploitation of those bacteria may represent a “Feast-or-famine” existence in which infection of highly localized concentrations of phage-sensitive bacteria alternate with treacherous searches by the resulting phage progeny virions for new concentrations of phage-sensitive bacteria to infect. An updated synopsis of the literature concerning laboratory testing of phage use to combat bacterial biofilms is then provided along with tips on how “Ecologically” such phage-mediated biofilm control can be modified to more reliably achieve anti-biofilm efficacy.

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“…Both involve delays in phage-induced bacterial lysis. Furthermore, both involve, at least in principle, an increase in the number of phages produced by signal-receiving phage-infected bacteria [11,12]. On the other hand, these systems differ in that one is displayed within a context of temperate phages and resulting lysogenic cycles (ASs), while the other is observed particularly with the strictly lytic T-even type myovirus bacteriophages, i.e., phages T2, T4, and T6 [13,14]; see also Gromkova [15] for observation of LIN in T-even-like Shigella phages and Schito [16] for observation of LIN in the podovirus N4.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Look Who’s Talking: T-Even Phage Lysis Inhibition, the Granddaddy of Virus-Virus Intercellular Communication Research

Abedon

2019

Viruses

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That communication can occur between virus-infected cells has been appreciated for nearly as long as has virus molecular biology. The original virus communication process specifically was that seen with T-even bacteriophages—phages T2, T4, and T6—resulting in what was labeled as a lysis inhibition. Another proposed virus communication phenomenon, also seen with T-even phages, can be described as a phage-adsorption-induced synchronized lysis-inhibition collapse. Both are mediated by virions that were released from earlier-lysing, phage-infected bacteria. Each may represent ecological responses, in terms of phage lysis timing, to high local densities of phage-infected bacteria, but for lysis inhibition also to locally reduced densities of phage-uninfected bacteria. With lysis inhibition, the outcome is a temporary avoidance of lysis, i.e., a lysis delay, resulting in increased numbers of virions (greater burst size). Synchronized lysis-inhibition collapse, by contrast, is an accelerated lysis which is imposed upon phage-infected bacteria by virions that have been lytically released from other phage-infected bacteria. Here I consider some history of lysis inhibition, its laboratory manifestation, its molecular basis, how it may benefit expressing phages, and its potential ecological role. I discuss as well other, more recently recognized examples of virus-virus intercellular communication.

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Communication Among Phages, Bacteria, and Soil Environments

Cited by 20 publications

References 116 publications

Prospects of Phage Application in the Treatment of Acne Caused by Propionibacterium acnes

Prospects of Phage Application in the Treatment of Acne Caused by Propionibacterium acnes

Ecology of Anti-Biofilm Agents II: Bacteriophage Exploitation and Biocontrol of Biofilm Bacteria

Look Who’s Talking: T-Even Phage Lysis Inhibition, the Granddaddy of Virus-Virus Intercellular Communication Research

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