Arbitrium phages can manipulate each other's lysis/lysogeny decisions - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #phage communication
- #lysis/lysogeny decision
- #arbitrium phages
- Arbitrium phages use peptide signals to decide between lytic replication (when hosts are abundant) and lysogeny (when hosts are scarce).
- Different species or genera of arbitrium phages can influence each other's infection dynamics through cross-communication with similar peptides, causing early lysogeny in signal-receiving phages.
- This manipulation through crosstalk leads to increased fitness for the signal-emitting phage, driving antagonistic coevolution and rapid diversification of arbitrium systems, as well as horizontal exchange to avoid interference.