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ADA Forsyth scientists discover new phage res - EurekAlert


<p>In a recent study, ADA Forsyth scientists describe a new mechanism impacting the phage-bacterial arms race, a&nbsp;nanosized epibiotic parasite, TM7x, which helps its host bacterium (a <em>Schaalia odontolytica</em> strain called XH001) achieve resistance to lytic phages. TM7x&nbsp;causes a physiological change to the host bacteria. When TM7x is present, it causes modulation of&nbsp;the bacteria&rsquo;s surface structures, which prevents the phages from attaching. TM7x ultimately helps the phage and bacteria to coexist by creating a sink-source dynamic: the bacteria without TM7x can continue to be available to the phage, while the bacteria with the parasite resist phages. These bacteria can continue to reproduce a supply for phage consumption while protecting themselves from the lytic phage by forming symbiotic relationship with TM7x.</p>

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