Dataset Information

Broad and specific anti-defense genes in bacteriophage genomes

ABSTRACT: Bacteria and bacteriophages have been engaged in a relentless evolutionary arms race, driving a rapid evolution of bacterial defense mechanisms and leading to their scattered distribution across genomes. We hypothesized that the variability in defense systems presence in bacterial genomes leads to equally variable counter-defense repertoires in phage genomes. To test this, we analyzed the variable regions in Pseudomonas model phages of the Pbunavirus genus, uncovering five anti-defense genes inhibiting Zorya type I, RADAR, Hypnos, Druantia type I and III, and Thoeris type III. Remarkably, a typical Pbunavirus encodes up to five known anti-defense genes, some inhibiting four unrelated defense systems with distinct nucleic acid-targeting mechanisms. Structural searches revealed that these broad-acting inhibitors are encoded across diverse phage taxa infecting multiple bacterial hosts. The presence of both broad and specific inhibitors suggests that defense systems exert a strong selective pressure, and their utility presents opportunities to improve phage-based therapeutics.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Bacteria Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Aes-1r

SUBMITTER: Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos

LAB HEAD: Stan J.J. Brouns

PROVIDER: PXD063439 | Pride | 2026-02-23

REPOSITORIES: Pride

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Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
	20250416_MH_Donau_KK_uPAC50_38min_DIA_Delft_antigene_Plate1_A1.raw	Raw
	20250416_MH_Donau_KK_uPAC50_38min_DIA_Delft_antigene_Plate1_A1.raw.quant	Raw
	20250416_MH_Donau_KK_uPAC50_38min_DIA_Delft_antigene_Plate1_A10.raw	Raw
	20250416_MH_Donau_KK_uPAC50_38min_DIA_Delft_antigene_Plate1_A10.raw.quant	Raw
	20250416_MH_Donau_KK_uPAC50_38min_DIA_Delft_antigene_Plate1_A11.raw	Raw

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Publications

Bacteriophage genomes encode both broad and specific counter-defense repertoires to overcome bacterial defense systems.

Costa Ana Rita AR van den Berg Daan F DF Esser Jelger Q JQ van den Bossche Halewijn H Pozhydaieva Nadiia N Kalogeropoulos Konstantinos K Brouns Stan J J SJJ

Cell host & microbe 20250701 7

The evolutionary arms race between bacteria and bacteriophages drives rapid evolution of bacterial defense mechanisms with scattered distribution across genomes. We hypothesized that this variability in bacterial defense systems leads to equally variable counter-defense repertoires in phage genomes. Examining the variable regions in Pseudomonas model phages of the Pbunavirus genus revealed five anti-defense genes, including one inhibiting Druantia type III named DadIII-1, another targeting Thoer ...[more]

PMID: 40639337

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