Microbial Piracy: Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance
- Researchers have discovered how 'pirate phages' hijack other viruses to break into bacteria, sharing new genetic material for hazardous traits.
- The discovery, published in the journal Cell, reveals a major route by which bacteria acquire new genetic material, including traits that can make them more virulent or more...
- Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect and kill bacteria.
‘Pirate Phages’ Hijack Viruses to Spread Antibiotic Resistance
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Researchers have discovered how ‘pirate phages’ hijack other viruses to break into bacteria, sharing new genetic material for hazardous traits. Imperial scientists have uncovered a mechanism of microbial piracy where bacteriophages hijack other viruses to spread,potentially offering new avenues for medicine.
How the Piracy Works
The discovery, published in the journal Cell, reveals a major route by which bacteria acquire new genetic material, including traits that can make them more virulent or more resistant to antibiotics. The researchers believe this could open the door to new ways of tackling the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and developing rapid diagnostic tools.
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect and kill bacteria. They have a ‘head’ containing DNA and a tail with fibres that latch onto bacteria. Tho, phages can be targeted by phage satellites, small genetic elements that hijack the phage’s machinery.
The study focused on capsid-forming phage-inducible chromosomal islands (cf-PICIs). These genetic elements spread genes for antibiotic resistance and virulence, found across over 200 bacterial species.Previously discovered by the team in 2023, cf-PICIs can build capsids but lack tails, making them non-infective on thier own.
Researchers discovered that cf-PICIs hijack tails from unrelated phages, creating hybrid “chimeric” viruses. These chimeric phages carry cf-PICI DNA within a phage-derived capsid and tail.
Crucially, some cf-PICIs can hijack tails from different phage species, broadening their host range. This allows them to infiltrate new bacterial species, explaining their abundance in nature.
Implications and Future Research
Understanding this molecular piracy could lead to:
- Re-engineering satellites to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Overcoming bacterial defenses like biofilms.
- Developing new diagnostic tools.
“These pirate satellites don’t just teach us how bacteria share dangerous traits. They could inspire next-generation therapies and tests to outmanoeuvre some of the most difficult infections we face.”
– Dr.Tiago Alves