Crosstalk between inovirus core gene and accessory toxin-antitoxin system mediates polylysogeny.

ABSTRACT: Polylysogeny, the harboring of multiple prophages within a single bacterial genome, is common among bacterial pathogens and enhances virulence and genome plasticity. Inoviruses (filamentous phages) are often present in multiple copies in major pathogens, leading to polylysogeny. Two highly similar filamentous phages (Pf4 and Pf6) are integrated into the widely distributed model Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, and both prophages are activated during biofilm formation. It remains unclear whether the two prophages function competitively or cooperatively. Here, we show a crosstalk between Pf4's core region protein RepG4 (PA0717) and Pf6's accessory KKP (kinase-kinase-phosphatase) toxin-antitoxin module that coordinates their propagation. RepG4, involved in Pf4 phage replication, triggers kinase

SUBMITTER: Gu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12328805 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature