Bacteriophage lambda: Early pioneer and still relevant

Abstract

Molecular genetic research on bacteriophage lambda carried out during its golden age from the mid 1950's to mid 1980's was critically important in the attainment of our current understanding of the sophisticated and complex mechanisms by which the expression of genes is controlled, of DNA virus assembly and of the molecular nature of lysogeny. The development of molecular cloning techniques, ironically instigated largely by phage lambda researchers, allowed many phage workers to switch their efforts to other biological systems. Nonetheless, since that time the ongoing study of lambda and its relatives have continued to give important new insights. In this review we give some relevant early history and describe recent developments in understanding the molecular biology of lambda's life cycle.

Bacterial Diversification in the Light of the Interactions with Phages: The Genetic Symbionts and Their Role in Ecological Speciation

“…However, some Mu-like phages regularly package a few kilobases of neighboring DNA, and thus specialized transduction seems to have become part of the life cycle of these phages. Generalized transduction rates are lowest when the multiplicity of infection is high, probably because cells that are transduced are still susceptible to infection by the surrounding viruses, while cells that are infected with viruses cannot be re-infected due to superinfection exclusion (Casjens and Hendrix, 2015;Howard-Varona et al, 2017).…”

Coping with inadvertent lysis of Escherichia coli cultures: Strains resistant to lysogeny and infection by the stealthy lysogenic phage Φ80

“…Lysogeny is generally reversed by DNA damage to the host, resulting in the excision of the prophage from the host chromosome and replication (S. R. Casjens & Hendrix, 2015). The lysogeny versus lytic growth decision is best understood for phage λ (S. R. Casjens & Hendrix, 2015;Gottesman & Weisberg, 2004). The lysogeny versus lytic growth decision is best understood for phage λ (S. R. Casjens & Hendrix, 2015;Gottesman & Weisberg, 2004).…”

“…This induction of phage lytic growth can be rationalized as "rats deserting the sinking ship." Although a complex regulatory system underlies the lysis/lysogeny decision, the key λ protein is the cI repressor that shuts off transcription of the lytic genes of the prophage (S. R. Casjens & Hendrix, 2015;Gottesman & Weisberg, 2004). Although a complex regulatory system underlies the lysis/lysogeny decision, the key λ protein is the cI repressor that shuts off transcription of the lytic genes of the prophage (S. R. Casjens & Hendrix, 2015;Gottesman & Weisberg, 2004).…”

Experimental Study of Atmospheric Pressure Argon Plasma Jet-Induced Strand Breakage in Large DNA Molecules

“…6-11 12 biomolecules before its potential application on complex structures such as living tissue can of the DNA repair mechanism or DNA damage in the microorganism; the plasma jet has been shown to induce damage to cellular and plasmid DNA. 13 Study of the plasma jet in [14][15][16] The medium used for suspension of biomolecules and microorganisms during 1,17 Damage has been shown to be due to the interaction of biomolecules with reactive oxygen species of the cellular medium, because plasma modulates vital properties of media, and the toxic nature of plasma can also be altered by the surrounding media.…”