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<p>In lysogenic conversion, temperate phages can profoundly alter the phenotypes of their bacterial hosts. When studying the effects of SPbeta-like viruses on a <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> soil isolate, we observed that phage phi3T induced a stable and heritable acquisition of a spherical cell morphology, departing from the typical rod shape of its ancestor. Although time-lapse imaging revealed that the lysogen retained cell wall integrity and symmetric division, it exhibited reduced fitness and increased susceptibility to cell wall-targeting antimicrobials. Remarkably, when SPβ, a homologous SPbeta-like virus, was present, the host retained its rod-shaped morphology despite phi3T superinfection. This study uncovers a novel example of lysogenic conversion in which phage integration into the bacterial genome induces heritable changes in host biology. Additionally, we revealed intriguing phage-phage interactions during polylysogeny that may benefit the host. These findings offer insight into the persistence and absence of specific <i>Spbetavirus</i> variants in natural <i>B. subtilis</i> populations.</p>

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Lysogenic control of Bacillus subtilis morphology and fitness by Spbetavirus phi3T

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月18日

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  • Valentina A. Floccari,
  • Helge Feddersen,
  • Jaka Jakin Lazar,
  • Virginie Grosboillot,
  • Anna Munk,
  • Paul Kempen,
  • Robert Hertel,
  • Tomaž Accetto,
  • Ákos T. Kovács,
  • Marc Bramkamp,
  • Anna Dragoš

摘要

In lysogenic conversion, temperate phages can profoundly alter the phenotypes of their bacterial hosts. When studying the effects of SPbeta-like viruses on a Bacillus subtilis soil isolate, we observed that phage phi3T induced a stable and heritable acquisition of a spherical cell morphology, departing from the typical rod shape of its ancestor. Although time-lapse imaging revealed that the lysogen retained cell wall integrity and symmetric division, it exhibited reduced fitness and increased susceptibility to cell wall-targeting antimicrobials. Remarkably, when SPβ, a homologous SPbeta-like virus, was present, the host retained its rod-shaped morphology despite phi3T superinfection. This study uncovers a novel example of lysogenic conversion in which phage integration into the bacterial genome induces heritable changes in host biology. Additionally, we revealed intriguing phage-phage interactions during polylysogeny that may benefit the host. These findings offer insight into the persistence and absence of specific Spbetavirus variants in natural B. subtilis populations.