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Cryptic prophages help bacteria cope with adverse environments

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoxue Wang

    (Texas A & M University, 220 Jack E. Brown Building, College Station)

  • Younghoon Kim

    (Texas A & M University, 220 Jack E. Brown Building, College Station)

  • Qun Ma

    (Texas A & M University, 220 Jack E. Brown Building, College Station)

  • Seok Hoon Hong

    (Texas A & M University, 220 Jack E. Brown Building, College Station)

  • Karina Pokusaeva

    (Texas A & M University)

  • Joseph M. Sturino

    (Texas A & M University)

  • Thomas K. Wood

    (Texas A & M University, 220 Jack E. Brown Building, College Station)

Abstract

Phages are the most abundant entity in the biosphere and outnumber bacteria by a factor of 10. Phage DNA may also constitute 20% of bacterial genomes; however, its role is ill defined. Here, we explore the impact of cryptic prophages on cell physiology by precisely deleting all nine prophage elements (166 kbp) using Escherichia coli. We find that cryptic prophages contribute significantly to resistance to sub-lethal concentrations of quinolone and β-lactam antibiotics primarily through proteins that inhibit cell division (for example, KilR of rac and DicB of Qin). Moreover, the prophages are beneficial for withstanding osmotic, oxidative and acid stresses, for increasing growth, and for influencing biofilm formation. Prophage CPS-53 proteins YfdK, YfdO and YfdS enhanced resistance to oxidative stress, prophages e14, CPS-53 and CP4-57 increased resistance to acid, and e14 and rac proteins increased early biofilm formation. Therefore, cryptic prophages provide multiple benefits to the host for surviving adverse environmental conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoxue Wang & Younghoon Kim & Qun Ma & Seok Hoon Hong & Karina Pokusaeva & Joseph M. Sturino & Thomas K. Wood, 2010. "Cryptic prophages help bacteria cope with adverse environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:1:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1146
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1146
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    Cited by:

    1. Yanan Zhao & Jiaojiao Hu & Shan-Shan Yang & Jing Zhong & Jianping Liu & Shuo Wang & Yuzhuo Jiao & Fang Jiang & Ruiyang Zhai & Bingnan Ren & Hua Cong & Yuwei Zhu & Fengtong Han & Jixian Zhang & Yue Xu , 2022. "A redox switch regulates the assembly and anti-CRISPR activity of AcrIIC1," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Yi Yi & Shunzhang Liu & Yali Hao & Qingyang Sun & Xinjuan Lei & Yecheng Wang & Jiahua Wang & Mujie Zhang & Shan Tang & Qingxue Tang & Yue Zhang & Xipeng Liu & Yinzhao Wang & Xiang Xiao & Huahua Jian, 2023. "A systematic analysis of marine lysogens and proviruses," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Filipe Carvalho & Alexis Carreaux & Anna Sartori-Rupp & Stéphane Tachon & Anastasia D. Gazi & Pascal Courtin & Pierre Nicolas & Florence Dubois-Brissonnet & Aurélien Barbotin & Emma Desgranges & Matth, 2024. "Aquatic environment drives the emergence of cell wall-deficient dormant forms in Listeria," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Khan, Amjad & Wahl, Lindi M., 2020. "Quantifying the forces that maintain prophages in bacterial genomes," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 168-179.

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