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Lysogeny in marine Synechococcus

2002; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 415; Issue: 6871 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/415496a

1476-4687

Lauren D. McDaniel, L. A. Houchin, Shannon J. Williamson, John H. Paul,

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Viral infection of bacteria can be lytic, causing destruction of the host cell, or lysogenic, in which the viral genome is instead stably maintained as a prophage within its host. Here we show that lysogeny occurs in natural populations of an autotrophic picoplankton (Synechococcus) and that there is a seasonal pattern to this interaction. Because lysogeny confers immunity to infection by related viruses, this process may account for the resistance to viral infection seen in common forms of autotrophic picoplankton.