Host control by phage
We study different aspects of bacteria control by temperate phages:
Host behaviour
Molecular mechanisms
Evolution
Our research
Phages are bacterial killers, but they can also integrate into bacterial DNA and replicate together with their host as a prophage. Prophage can change the behavior, social interactions and evolution of its bacterial host.
Our model host is Bacillus subtilis, a cosmopolitan spore-forming bacterium known for PGPR and probiotic properties.
Roughly 40% of natural B. subtilis isolates carry SPβ-like prophages. They are large, equipped with host-controlling genetic arsenal, they act as regulatory switches and they tend to recombine with each other.
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