Abstract
With the recent publication by Silpe and Bassler (2019), considering phage detection of a bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) autoinducer, we now have as many as five examples of phage-associated intercellular communication (Table 1). Each potentially involves ecological inferences by phages as to concentrations of surrounding phage-infected or uninfected bacteria. While the utility of phage detection of bacterial QS molecules may at first glance appear to be straightforward, we suggest in this commentary that the underlying ecological explanation is unlikely to be simple.
Highlights
Unless prophage presence were to dampen DPO production, resulting induction among sister lysogens could result in virion release into environments consisting of high densities of virion-inactivating bacteria
This scenario is perhaps more plausible than Scenario 1, given the founding of microcolonies by single lysogens, ones not necessarily surrounded by phage-sensitive V. cholerae strains
Better understanding DPO-motivated prophage induction will require determining the in situ timing of VqmAPhage-receptor expression and its ecological context, e.g., such as the spatial distribution of its or DPO’s presence within phage VP882 lysogen microcolonies
Summary
A Host-Produced Quorum-Sensing Autoinducer Controls a Phage Lysis-Lysogeny Decision by Silpe, J. With the recent publication by Silpe and Bassler (2019), considering phage detection of a bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) autoinducer, we have as many as five examples of phage-associated intercellular communication (Table 1). In a fascinating study, Silpe and Bassler (2019) show that a temperate vibriophage can both detect and respond to a host-produced QS autoinducer, 3,5-dimethylpyrazin-2-ol (DPO). This cue helps to determine the phage’s lifestyle via a mechanism that is potentially ecologically similar to observations provided by Ghosh et al (2009). Lysis delayed or Selected by what accelerated? (context of densities of outcome) phage-infected bacteria?
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