Slings and arrows: sRNAs mediate intragenomic competition.

ABSTRACT

Bacterial genomes are littered with exogenous competing DNA elements. Here, Sprenger et al. demonstrate that the Vibrio cholerae prophage VP882 modulates host functions via production of regulatory sRNAs to promote phage development. Alternatively, host sRNAs inhibit the VP882 lytic phase by specifically regulating phage genes.