Fungal Volatiles Enable Prophage Induction
Up to 70 % of bacteria are lysogenic potentially interacting with soil fungi. Although fungal volatile organic compounds (fVOC) are recognized bacterial stressors, little is known about their effect on prophage induction (PI). Here, we quantified effects of fVOC on PI in a polylysogenic soil isolate (Arthrobacter sp. B2A2-9) and a model lysogen (E. coli K124 F-). In laboratory microcosms, lysogens were exposed to fVOC of Pleurotus sp. and fungal soil isolates (Agrocybe praecox, Marasmius rotula, Trichoderma sp.) originated from the same habitat like Arthrobacter. Subsequently, the number of lysogens, along with the concentrations of released infectious and total temperate phages, was determined using the indicator strain Arthrobacter sp. B2A2-11 and phage-specific qPCR.