Acquisition of phage sensitivity by bacteria through exchange of phage receptors

• Elhanan Tzipilevich ^[1] ; Michal Habusha ^[1] ; Sigal Ben-Yehuda ^[1]
  1. [1] The Hebrew University
• Localización: Cell, ISSN 0092-8674, Vol. 168, Nº. 1-2, 2017, págs. 186-199
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Bacteriophages (phages) typically exhibit a narrow host range, yet they tremendously impact horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Here, we investigate phage dynamics in communities harboring phage-resistant (R) and sensitive (S) bacteria, a common scenario in nature. Using Bacillus subtilis and its lytic phage SPP1, we demonstrate that R cells, lacking SPP1 receptor, can be lysed by SPP1 when co-cultured with S cells. This unanticipated lysis was triggered in part by phage lytic enzymes released from nearby infected cells. Strikingly, we discovered that occasionally phages can invade R cells, a phenomenon we termed acquisition of sensitivity (ASEN). We found that ASEN is mediated by R cells transiently gaining phage attachment molecules from neighboring S cells and provide evidence that this molecular exchange is driven by membrane vesicles. Exchange of phage attachment molecules could even occur in an interspecies fashion, enabling phage adsorption to non-host species, providing an unexplored route for HGT.