title: Impact of spontaneous prophage induction on the fitness of bacterial populations and host-microbe interactions.
abstract: Bacteriophages and genetic elements, such as prophage-like elements, pathogenicity islands, and phage morons, make up a considerable amount of bacterial genomes. Their transfer and subsequent activity within the host's genetic circuitry have had a significant impact on bacterial evolution. In this review, we consider what underlying mechanisms might cause the spontaneous activity of lysogenic phages in single bacterial cells and how the spontaneous induction of prophages can lead to competitive advantages for and influence the lifestyle of bacterial populations or the virulence of pathogenic strains.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften, IBG-1: Biotechnologie, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: Arun M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thormann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften, IBG-1: Biotechnologie, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany j.frunzke@fz-juelich.de.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frunzke
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000821:virology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D039002:Prophages / Q000254:growth & development*; D014775:Virus Activation