Bacteriophage T4 Infection of Stationary Phase E. coli: Life after Log from a Phage Perspective.

ABSTRACT: Virtually all studies of phage infections investigate bacteria growing exponentially in rich media. In nature, however, phages largely encounter non-growing cells. Bacteria entering stationary phase often activate well-studied stress defense mechanisms that drastically alter the cell, facilitating its long-term survival. An understanding of phage-host interactions in such conditions is of major importance from both an ecological and therapeutic standpoint. Here, we show that bacteriophage T4 can efficiently bind to, infect and kill E. coli in stationary phase, both in the presence and absence of a functional stationary-phase sigma factor, and explore the response of T4-infected stationary phase cells to the addition of fresh nutrients 5 or 24 h after that infection. An unexpected new mode

SUBMITTER: Bryan D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5014867 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature