Phages and the Evolution of Bacterial Pathogens: from Genomic Rearrangements to Lysogenic Conversion

Phages and the Evolution of Bacterial Pathogens: from Genomic Rearrangements to Lysogenic Conversion

Sept. 2004 | Harald Brüssow, Carlos Canchaya, Wolf-Dietrich Hardt
The chapter discusses the role of phages in the evolution of bacterial pathogens, highlighting their impact on bacterial genome architecture, horizontal gene transfer, and the emergence of new pathogens. Phages have been studied intensively for their own sake and as model systems, but recent research has shifted towards ecology-oriented studies, revealing their crucial role in bacterial pathogenesis. Phages carry key virulence factors, such as those in *Corynebacterium diphtheriae* and *Clostridium botulinum*, and their presence affects bacterial fitness through various mechanisms, including genome rearrangements, gene disruption, protection from lytic infection, and the introduction of new fitness factors through lysogenic conversion. The chapter also explores the evolutionary origin of fitness factors, which may have evolved from interactions with unicellular eukaryotes or through horizontal gene transfer. Comparative genomics shows that prophages are significant contributors to strain-specific DNA differences, and their absence in some bacterial pathogens may reflect chance or other factors. The evolution of phages is discussed, emphasizing the modular nature of their genomes and the role of illegitimate and homologous recombination in module exchange. Phages play a key role in the quick adaptation of bacteria to new niches, contributing to emerging infectious diseases and food pathogens. The chapter concludes by discussing the impact of phage-mediated gene transfer and inactivation on bacterial evolution.The chapter discusses the role of phages in the evolution of bacterial pathogens, highlighting their impact on bacterial genome architecture, horizontal gene transfer, and the emergence of new pathogens. Phages have been studied intensively for their own sake and as model systems, but recent research has shifted towards ecology-oriented studies, revealing their crucial role in bacterial pathogenesis. Phages carry key virulence factors, such as those in *Corynebacterium diphtheriae* and *Clostridium botulinum*, and their presence affects bacterial fitness through various mechanisms, including genome rearrangements, gene disruption, protection from lytic infection, and the introduction of new fitness factors through lysogenic conversion. The chapter also explores the evolutionary origin of fitness factors, which may have evolved from interactions with unicellular eukaryotes or through horizontal gene transfer. Comparative genomics shows that prophages are significant contributors to strain-specific DNA differences, and their absence in some bacterial pathogens may reflect chance or other factors. The evolution of phages is discussed, emphasizing the modular nature of their genomes and the role of illegitimate and homologous recombination in module exchange. Phages play a key role in the quick adaptation of bacteria to new niches, contributing to emerging infectious diseases and food pathogens. The chapter concludes by discussing the impact of phage-mediated gene transfer and inactivation on bacterial evolution.
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[slides and audio] Phages and the Evolution of Bacterial Pathogens%3A from Genomic Rearrangements to Lysogenic Conversion