Temperate phages enhance bacterial host fitness via RNA-guided flagellar remodelling - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #flagellar remodelling
- #bacteriophage
- #immune evasion
- The study reveals that temperate phages enhance bacterial host fitness by using RNA-guided transcription factors called TldR.
- These phages, like Flagellin Remodeling prophage (FRφ), alter flagellar composition, improving bacterial motility and immune evasion.
- Cryo-EM structures show distinct flagellin architectures underlie these physiological changes in host bacteria.
- FRφ improves colonization in the murine gut, demonstrating benefits in host-associated environments.
- The findings indicate RNA-guided transcription factors evolved parallel to CRISPR-Cas, co-opted by phages for flagellar remodeling.