title: Genetics of Phage Lysis.
abstract: We have been witnessing an increased interest in bacteriophage studies focused on their use as antibacterial agents to fight pathogenic bacteria. This interest is a consequence of the phages' ability to lyse a bacterial host. Until recently, little was known about the mechanisms used by mycobacteriophages to induce lysis of their complex hosts. However, studies on Ms6-induced lysis have changed this scenario and provided new insights into the mechanisms of bacteriophage-induced lysis. Specific lysis protein genes have been identified in mycobacteriophage genomes, reflecting the particular mycobacterial cell envelope composition. These include enzymes that target mycolic acid-containing lipids and proteins that participate in the secretion of the phage endolysin, functioning as chaperone-like proteins. This chapter focuses on the current knowledge of mycobacteriophage-induced lysis, starting with an overview of phage lysis and basic features of the lysis players.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Patogénese Molecular, Unidade dos Retrovirus e Infecções Associadas, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Madalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009160:Mycobacteriophages / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; C001143:endolysin