Simultaneous inhibition of bacterial virulence and anti-phage defense systems by synergistic bacteriophage counter-defense proteins - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #Anti-phage immunity
- #Bacteriophage
- #Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Bacteriophages have evolved inhibitors targeting bacterial virulence and anti-phage defense systems, offering potential for new antimicrobial strategies.
- Dap2, a protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage PaoP5, suppresses bacterial pathogenicity by sequestering the T3SS transcriptional activator ExsA.
- Dap2 also binds the host Lon protease to prevent degradation of the phage-encoded HNH endonuclease, crucial for phage genome packaging.
- Deletion of dap2 in PaoP5 impairs phage genome packaging due to insufficient HNH levels.
- Dap2 synergizes with Dap1 to completely protect HNH against degradation, showcasing a mechanism for neutralizing bacterial defense systems.
- The study highlights a dual-function phage protein that modulates both bacterial virulence and anti-phage immunity.