Alternating lysis and lysogeny is a winning strategy in bacteriophages due to Parrondo's paradox.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 119(13): e2115145119, 2022 03 29.
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| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35316140
ABSTRACT
SignificanceBacteriophages, the most widespread reproducing biological entity on Earth, employ two strategies of virus-host interaction lysis of the host cell and lysogeny whereby the virus genome integrates into the host genome and propagates vertically with it. We present a population model that reveals an effect known as Parrondo's paradox in game theory Alternating between lysis and lysogeny is a winning strategy for a bacteriophage, even when each strategy individually is at a disadvantage compared with a competing bacteriophage. Thus, evolution of bacteriophages appears to optimize the ratio between the lysis and lysogeny propensities rather than the phage burst size in any individual phase. This phenomenon is likely to be relevant for understanding evolution of other host-parasites systems.
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MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Bacteriófagos
/
Lisogenia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article