title: Acquisition of Phage Sensitivity by Bacteria through Exchange of Phage Receptors.
abstract: Bacteriophages (phages) typically exhibit a narrow host range, yet they tremendously impact horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Here, we investigate phage dynamics in communities harboring phage-resistant (R) and sensitive (S) bacteria, a common scenario in nature. Using Bacillus subtilis and its lytic phage SPP1, we demonstrate that R cells, lacking SPP1 receptor, can be lysed by SPP1 when co-cultured with S cells. This unanticipated lysis was triggered in part by phage lytic enzymes released from nearby infected cells. Strikingly, we discovered that occasionally phages can invade R cells, a phenomenon we termed acquisition of sensitivity (ASEN). We found that ASEN is mediated by R cells transiently gaining phage attachment molecules from neighboring S cells and provide evidence that this molecular exchange is driven by membrane vesicles. Exchange of phage attachment molecules could even occur in an interspecies fashion, enabling phage adsorption to non-host species, providing an unexplored route for HGT. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, POB 12272, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Elhanan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tzipilevich
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, POB 12272, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habusha
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, POB 12272, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: sigalb@ekmd.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Sigal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben-Yehuda
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000821:virology; D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D058507:Host Specificity; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000821:virology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D011991:Receptors, Virus
keywords: Bacillus subtilis; Phi29; SPO1; SPP1; bacteriophages; membrane vesicles; phage spread