Pseudomonas aeruginosa maintains an inducible array of novel and diverse prophages over lengthy persistence in cystic fibrosis lungs.

ABSTRACT: Pseudomonas aeruginosa has increasing clinical relevance and commonly occupies the cystic fibrosis (CF) airways. Its ability to colonize and persist in diverse niches is attributed to its large accessory genome, where prophages represent a common feature and may contribute to its fitness and persistence. We focused on the CF airways niche and used 197 longitudinal isolates from 12 patients persistently infected by P. aeruginosa. We computationally predicted intact prophages for each longitudinal group and scored their long-term persistence. We then confirmed prophage inducibility and mapped their location in the host chromosome with lysate sequencing. Using comparative genomics, we evaluated prophage genomic diversity, long-term persistence, and level of genomic maintenance. Our findings s

SUBMITTER: Kyrkou I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11846083 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature