Article
Bacteriophages encode factors required for protection in a symbiotic mutualism.
Science (New York, N.Y.) - 21 Aug 2009
Oliver Kerry M, Degnan Patrick H, Hunter Martha S, Moran Nancy A
Abstract excerpt
Bacteriophages are known to carry key virulence factors for pathogenic bacteria, but their roles in symbiotic bacteria are less well understood. The heritable symbiont Hamiltonella defensa protects the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum from attack by the parasitoid Aphidius ervi by killing developing wasp larvae. In a controlled genetic background, we show that a toxin-encoding bacteriophage is required to produce the...
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