Bacteriophages, viruses that attack and destroy bacteria, are ubiquitous in nature. They play a vital role in regulating microbial populations, although their mechanisms are not yet fully understood.

Recent research has uncovered that plant bacterial pathogens can repurpose elements of their bacteriophages, or phages, to eliminate competing microbes. This discovery opens new possibilities for alternative antibiotics.

Bacteriophage research

A collaborative study led by the University of Utah and University College London (UCL) has revealed that plant bacterial pathogens utilize bacteriophage-derived elements to combat rival bacteria.

According to Talia Karasov, an assistant professor at the University of Utah’s School of Biological Sciences, these findings could lead to the development of new antimicrobial treatments.

This unexpected result emerged from research focused on the interactions between plants and microbial pathogens.

The primary interest was understanding what keeps these pathogens in check and what causes them to lead to sickness and epidemics.

Investigating pathogen behavior

The research team examined the behavior of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas viridiflava in both agricultural and wild environments.

On cultivated land, one variant would dominate a crop field, but this was not the case in uncultivated areas. This discrepancy prompted further investigation.

“We see that no single lineage of bacteria can dominate. We wondered whether phages, the pathogens of our bacterial pathogens, could prevent single lineages from spreading,” Karasov explained.

Read on: https://www.earth.com/news/bacteriophages-how-bacteria-harness-viruses-to-attack-competitors/