Ingestion without inactivation of bacteriophages by Tetrahymena.
Tetrahymena has been shown to ingest and inactivate bacteriophages, such as T4, in co-incubation experiments. In this study, Tetrahymena thermophila failed to inactivate phages PhiX174 and MS2 in co-incubations, although PhiX174 were ingested by T. thermophila, as demonstrated by: (1) recovery at defecation in a pulse-chase experiment, (2) recovery from Tetrahymena by detergent lysis, and (3) transmission electron microscopy. We conclude, therefore, that the phages must be digestion-resistant. Internalized PhiX174 were further shown to be partially protected from lethal damage by ultraviolet (UV) C and UVB irradiation. Finally, ingested PhiX174 were shown to be rapidly transported through buffer in a horizontal swimming, race tube-like assay. The transport and protection of phages may confer evolutionary advantages that explain the acquisition of digestion-resistance by some phages.
Akunyili
Agnes A
AA
Department of Biology and Health Services, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA 16444, USA.
Alfatlawi
Miaad
M
Upadhyaya
Bandana
B
Rhoads
Laura S
LS
Eichelberger
Henry
H
Van Bell
Craig T
CT
D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D038301:Virus Inactivation