bacteriophages
- Editor's Pick Research ArticleEvolution of the U.S. Biological Select Agent Rathayibacter toxicus
Rathayibacter toxicus is a toxin-producing species found in Australia and is often fatal to grazing animals. The threat of introduction of the species into the United States led to its inclusion in the Federal Select Agent Program, which makes R. toxicus a highly regulated species. This work...
- Research ArticleBacteriophage Distributions and Temporal Variability in the Ocean’s Interior
The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre represents one of the largest biomes on the planet, where microbial communities are central mediators of ecosystem dynamics and global biogeochemical cycles. Critical members of these communities are the viruses of marine bacteria, which can alter microbial metabolism and significantly influence their survival and productivity. To better understand these viral assemblages, we conducted genomic analyses...
- Research ArticleBacteriophage Transcytosis Provides a Mechanism To Cross Epithelial Cell Layers
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. They cannot infect eukaryotic cells but can penetrate epithelial cell layers and spread throughout sterile regions of our bodies, including the blood, lymph, organs, and even the brain. Yet how phages cross these eukaryotic cell layers and gain access to the body remains unknown. In this work, epithelial cells were observed to take up and transport phages across the cell,...
- Research ArticleGenome-Wide Discovery of Genes Required for Capsule Production by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans and are primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Many UPEC strains express a polysaccharide K capsule that provides protection against host innate immune factors and contributes to survival and persistence during infection. The K1 serotype is one example of a polysaccharide capsule type and is strongly associated with UPEC...
- Editor's Pick Research ArticleThe CRISPR Spacer Space Is Dominated by Sequences from Species-Specific Mobilomes
The principal function of CRISPR-Cas systems is thought to be protection of bacteria and archaea against viruses and other parasitic genetic elements. The CRISPR defense function is mediated by sequences from parasitic elements, known as spacers, that are inserted into CRISPR arrays and then transcribed and employed as guides to identify and inactivate the cognate parasitic genomes. However, only a small fraction of the CRISPR spacers...
- Research ArticleBacteriophages of Gordonia spp. Display a Spectrum of Diversity and Genetic Relationships
Despite the numerical dominance of bacteriophages in the biosphere, there is a dearth of complete genomic sequences. Current genomic information reveals that phages are highly diverse genomically and have mosaic architectures formed by extensive horizontal genetic exchange. Comparative analysis of 79 phages of Gordonia shows them to not only be highly diverse, but to present a spectrum of relatedness. Most are distantly related...