by Mechas — Discovering microscopic organisms and elements that exist at the edge of sight is no easy task. New tools designed to explore this mysterious world reveal previously unknown elements and uncover a complex web of forms whose secrets remain to be fully unraveled. Read more →
Searching for ΦX174
The search for ΦX174 was the task that our fellow blogger naturepoker set himself some time ago. His search was not in some largely forgotten and iced-over box in the back corner of a –80°C freezer. Instead, he searched the literature as to when and where this bacteriophage was first described. Naturepoker has recorded the result of this sleuthing... Read more →
Phage & Bacteria: A Space for Mutual Co-Existence
by Roberto — Phage-bacteria population dynamics can be remarkably complex. This is reflected in the natural history of both; new phage defense systems in bacteria and anti-defense systems in phage seem to be discovered daily. Behind these intricate strategies to help in the reproductive success of each lies the basic problem of any predator-prey relationship. Read more →
Dengue on the Rise
by Mechas — Dengue fever, a rapidly spreading disease caused by the dengue virus, is ranked among the top 10 threats to global health. Despite being restricted mainly to tropical and subtropical regions, concern about its spread is growing. Read more →
Of Terms in Biology: Phage–Plasmid (2|2)
by Christoph — In the first part of this piece on phage–plasmids (P–Ps), I focused on examples that are well known today, and on the fact that they are representatives of larger families with dozens of members, rather than peculiar solitary cases. Here now, in the second part, I will introduce some lesser-known examples of phage–plasmids. Read more →
Of Terms in Biology: Phage–Plasmid (1|2)
by Christoph — Once you think again about horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and how genomic DNA can pass from one cell to another, you may soon feel quite medieval and ruminate «mille viae ducunt hominem per saecula Romam». One of the main routes of chromosomal and extra‑chromosomal DNA (to Rome) is via transduction by bacteriophages, another via conjugation by plasmids, but there are other main roads too... Read more →
Filamentous Phage Shields
by Roberto — Elaborate mechanisms that protect bacteria against phage are well known, with CRISPR leading the way. Less familiar but equally fascinating is the fact that, somewhat unexpectedly, phages themselves sometimes offer bacteria protection in harsh environments. Filamentous phages do just that. Read more →
Pictures Considered #62 : A New Twist on Satellite Phages
by Roberto — In the phage universe, there are many examples of so-called satellite phages (or satellite phage-like elements) whose propagation depends on helper phages. Outside the bacterial cell these satellites look like phages, but... Read more →
Phages Unleashed: The Heist of CRISPR Repeats
by Sarah Camara-Wilpert and David Mayo-Muñoz — Bacteria, just like humans, are frequently infected by viruses (bacteriophages or phages). Phages replicate at the expense of their hosts, killing them and the process releases hundreds of progeny into the environment to complete their life cycle. The end of bacteria? Not so fast! Read more →
Fine Reading: Lessons from the COVID Pandemic
by Roberto
For many, the horrors lived through the pandemic are now receding memories. From a more objective perspective, we can now begin to ponder some key questions. What did each one of us learn from the experience? What should we have known from the start of the pandemic?
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