Experimental evolution for niche breadth in bacteriophage T4 highlights the importance of structural genes.

ABSTRACT: Ecologists have long studied the evolution of niche breadth, including how variability in environments can drive the evolution of specialism and generalism. This concept is of particular interest in viruses, where niche breadth evolution may explain viral disease emergence, or underlie the potential for therapeutic measures like phage therapy. Despite the significance and potential applications of virus-host interactions, the genetic determinants of niche breadth evolution remain underexplored in many bacteriophages. In this study, we present the results of an evolution experiment with a model bacteriophage system, Escherichia virus T4, in several host environments: exposure to Escherichia coli C, exposure to E. coli K-12, and exposure to both E. coli C and E. coli K-12. This experimental

SUBMITTER: Pham JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7002106 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature