The dynamics of phage predation on a microcolony

Eriksen, Rasmus Skytte; Larsen, Frej; Svenningsen, Sine Lo; Sneppen, Kim; Mitarai, Namiko

doi:10.1101/2023.06.13.544539

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, a detailed understanding of the bacterial physiology dependence of the latency time and the burst size both for single infected and superinfected cells is necessary for a more quantitative analysis of the plaque morphology. It will also help understanding dynamics of T4 attack on a growing colony [21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competitive advantages of T-even phage lysis inhibition in response to secondary infection

Hvid,

Mitarai

2024

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

T-even bacteriophages are known to employ lysis inhibition (LIN), where the lysis of an infected host is delayed in response to secondary adsorptions. Upon the eventual burst of the host, significantly more phage progenies are released. Here, we analysed the competitive advantage of LIN using a mathematical model. In batch culture, LIN provides a bigger phage yield at the end of the growth and, in addition, gives a competitive advantage against LIN mutants with rapid lysis by letting them adsorb to already infected hosts in the LIN state. By simulating plaque formation in a spatially structured environment, we show that, while LIN phages will produce a smaller zone of clearance, the area over which the phages spread is actually comparable to those without LIN. The analysis suggests that LIN induced by secondary adsorption is favourable in terms of competition, both in spatially homogeneous and inhomogeneous environments.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competitive advantages of T-even phage lysis inhibition in response to secondary infection

Hvid,

Mitarai

2024

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recent work has begun to clarify the fundamentals of lytic phage propagation at high spatial and temporal resolution in the biofilm context. This research has shown that, for several species, bacteria within biofilms are often protected from lytic phage exposure (31)(32)(33)(34)(35), and that this protection is dependent on biofilm growth and architectural maturity at the time of phage introduction. When E. coli is growing in a biofilm context, for example, the hosts' interactions with lytic phages are profoundly different relative to shaken liquid culture conditions (12,31,36).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial propagation of temperate phages within and among biofilms

Winans,

Garcia,

Zeng

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bacteria commonly form groups comprised of thousands or millions of cells and secreted adhesive matrix that controls their spatial organization. These groups – termed biofilms – can act as refuges from exogenous threats, both abiotic, such as exposure to antibiotics, and biotic, including predatory bacteria and bacteriophages. Unlike their obligate lytic counterparts that can only lyse and kill their host after infection, temperate phages can either lyse their host cell to produce a burst of new virions, or they can lysogenize their hosts by integrating their genome into that of infected bacteria replicate their genetic content vertically as hosts grow and divide, while also retaining the ability to enter the lytic cycle in response to environmental cues. Despite the ubiquity of both temperate phages and bacterial biofilms, the fundamental patterns of temperate phage propagation in the context of biofilm growth have never been explored on cellular spatial scales. Here, we leverage anE. colihost and an engineered λ phage that produces distinct fluorescent protein reporters to enable visual differentiation between lytic and lysogenic infections. We determine that lysogeny within establishedE. colibiofilms occurs within a predictable region of cell density, generally on the periphery of large groups of cells in the midst of a wave of lytic infections. Because lysogenization by λ occurs in the midst of a wave of lytic infections that locally decrease biofilm integrity, we found that lysogenized hosts are predisposed to higher dispersal to new locations. As a result of this predisposition towards dispersal, biofilms formed downstream of the original area of phage exposure have a significantly increased proportion of lysogens. A comparison of our results with those for obligate lytic phages reveals that the temperate phage life history confers unique and previously unknown advantages of proliferation within spatially constrained and architecturally heterogeneous biofilm communities. Our findings also bear on the conditions under which temperate phages may be used to manipulate host biofilm formation in the context of novel antimicrobial phage therapeutics.

show abstract

Isolation and characterization of a novel bacteriophage as a biological control agent against multidrug resistant Escherichia coli in compost and agricultural irrigation water

Amarillas,

León-Chan,

López-Avendaño

et al. 2024

F1000Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Escherichia coli is a critical priority pathogen due to its significant morbidity, mortality, and growing antimicrobial resistance, underscoring the urgent need for novel control strategies. This bacterium is frequently implicated in outbreaks associated with horticultural products, particularly those cultivated in organic farming systems. The aim of this study was to isolate and evaluate the potential of a bacteriophage as a biocontrol agent against E. coli in compost and agricultural irrigation water. Methods E. coli presence in compost samples (n=17) was determined through microbiological assays, and the bacterial identity was confirmed by PCR amplification of the phoA gene. Antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolates were assessed using the disk diffusion method. Bacteriophage isolation was conducted from livestock fecal samples using a double-layer agar technique. The stability of the bacteriophage under varying pH levels and temperatures was evaluated, along with its replication dynamics. Additionally, the phage’s efficacy in reducing E. coli populations in compost and irrigation water was assessed. Genomic sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of the bacteriophage were conducted to characterize its genetic profile. Results E. coli strains isolated exhibiting multidrug resistance were isolated from compost samples. The isolated bacteriophage, named Alux-21, exhibited stability at neutral pH and retained viability at both 4°C and 40°C over a six-month period. Importantly, the phage achieved a significant reduction of E. coli counts, exceeding 3.8 logs in compost and 3 logs in irrigation water, demonstrating its superior efficacy compared to previously reported phages in similar substrates. Genomic analysis confirmed the absence of virulence-associated, lysogeny, and antibiotic resistance genes. Conclusion The findings highlight Alux-21 as a sustainable biocontrol agent for E. coli in compost and irrigation water. Field validation will be crucial to establish its scalability and efficacy under real-world agricultural conditions.

show abstract

The dynamics of phage predation on a microcolony

Cited by 3 publications

References 46 publications

Competitive advantages of T-even phage lysis inhibition in response to secondary infection

Competitive advantages of T-even phage lysis inhibition in response to secondary infection

Spatial propagation of temperate phages within and among biofilms

Isolation and characterization of a novel bacteriophage as a biological control agent against multidrug resistant Escherichia coli in compost and agricultural irrigation water

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About