The branched receptor-binding complex of phages promotes adaptive host recognition.

Bacteriophages can encode multiple receptor-binding proteins, allowing them to recognize diverse receptors for infecting different strains. phages recognize various polysaccharides as receptors by encoding multiple tail spike proteins (TSPs), forming a branched complex. We aimed to mimic the evolution of the TSP complex by studying the acquisition of TSPs without disrupting the complex's functionality.

Strategies for developing phages into novel antimicrobial tailocins.

Tailocins are high-molecular-weight bacteriocins produced by bacteria to kill related environmental competitors by binding and puncturing their target. Tailocins are promising alternative antimicrobials, yet the diversity of naturally occurring tailocins is limited. The structural similarities between phage tails and tailocins advocate using phages as scaffolds for developing new tailocins.

A Novel Prophage-like Insertion Element within Triggers Early Entry into Sporulation in .

Sporulation is a finely regulated morphogenetic program important in the ecology and epidemiology of . Exogenous elements disrupting sporulation-associated genes contribute to sporulation regulation and introduce diversity in the generally conserved sporulation programs of endospore formers. We identified a novel prophage-like DNA segment, termed the element, inserted within , encoding a sporulation-specific cysteine protease, in an environmental isolate of .

Engineering of Phages into Novel Antimicrobial Tailocins.

Due to the extensive use of antibiotics, the increase of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is now a global health concern. Phages have proven useful for treating bacterial infections and represent a promising alternative or complement to antibiotic treatment. Yet, other alternatives exist, such as bacteria-produced non-replicative protein complexes that can kill their targeted bacteria by puncturing their membrane (Tailocins).

Producing Tailocins from Phages Using Osmotic Shock and Benzalkonium Chloride.

In the light of the worldwide antimicrobial resistance crisis, new substitutes to antibiotics are urgently needed. Tailocins or phage tail-like bacteriocin particles, produced by bacteria for environmental competition, are a potential antimicrobial alternative to antibiotic treatment. Yet, the availability of characterized Tailocins is limited.