Bacteria-infecting viruses bind mucosal surface and protect from disease

Bacteria-infecting viruses bind mucosal surface and protect from disease
Helium ion microscope image of bacterial growth. Credit: Gabriel Almeida/University of Jyväskylä

Mucosal surfaces protect organisms from external stressors and disease. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, have been shown to preferentially bind to mucosal surfaces. This has been suggested to provide an extra level of immunity against bacterial infections. Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland tested this idea using fish, phages (viruses) and a fish-infecting bacteria. Phages were confirmed to bind to the mucosal surface, staying there for days and give protection from subsequent bacterial infection. Research was published in mBio in November 2019.

The mucosal surfaces are important for protection of tissues and homeostasis, but often targeted by disease-causing . Phages have been suggested to specifically bind to host mucosal surfaces and prevent colonization by . In this symbiotic model populations are enriched in the mucus, a substrate in which encounters with their bacterial hosts are more probable, while the animal benefits from protection against invading bacteria.

Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä tested this idea using , phages (viruses) and a fish-infecting bacterium (Flavobacterium columnare). Phages were found to bind to fish mucosa, and maintain there for several days. Phages bound in mucus also protected the fish from diseases, although the pathogenic bacteria had a strong chemotaxis towards mucus, and exposure to mucosal molecules made them more virulent.

However, the mucosal environment made the bacteria more susceptible for phage infections, revealing a new aspect of the tripartite interactions between mucosal surfaces, bacteria and phages.

In conclusion, the mucosal environment influence both bacteria and phages. These interactions are important for understanding disease ecology and has significant impact in preventive phage therapy approaches.

More information: Gabriel M. F. Almeida et al, Bacteriophage Adherence to Mucus Mediates Preventive Protection against Pathogenic Bacteria, mBio (2019). DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01984-19

See also naturemicrobiologycommunity.na … bacteria-and-animals

Journal information: mBio

Citation: Bacteria-infecting viruses bind mucosal surface and protect from disease (2019, November 25) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2019-11-bacteria-infecting-viruses-mucosal-surface-disease.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Bacteria-killing gel heals itself while healing you

15 shares

Feedback to editors