Stress-resistant but phage-sensitive host mutants induced by phage T4 ghost adsorption.

ABSTRACT: The main effect of lytic phages on the host is cell lysis, and genetic impact of short-term contact between the host and the phage remains unknown unless genetic exchange occurs. In this study, we found that the adsorption of a lytic phage to the host cell can rapidly alter the genetic and physiological properties of hosts that have escaped lysis without relying on gene transfer. After adsorption of the lytic phage T4 to Escherichia coli (host) cells, 1% of E. coli cells exhibited an approximately 85-fold increase in spontaneous mutant frequency, which was measured based on antibiotic resistance. Phage ghosts increased the incidence of mutator strains exhibiting elevated expression of the error-prone DNA polymerase IV gene (dinB), while the emergence of mutators was su

SUBMITTER: Kenzaka T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12549603 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature