Scientist working with human tissue culture cells that have actually been treated with bacteriophages to enhance their growth and expansion. Credit: Barr Lab (CC-BY 4.0).
In order to examine how mammalian cells immune responses communicate with and are modulated by interactions with phages, researchers applied the well-studied phage T4 to mammalian cells in vitro and examined the cellular responses utilizing luciferase reporter and antibody microarray assays. The phage-free supernatant served as a relative control.
Implications and findings.
The scientists found that T4 phages did not activate DNA-mediated inflammatory pathways, however triggered a sequence of signaling path events that promote cellular growth and survival. Future studies are needed, nevertheless, to determine why cells use phage particles as resources, and whether they have actually specifically progressed through adaptation to take advantage of this internalization.
According to the authors, “This preliminary research study provides novel insights into the effect phages have on mammalian systems, with wider possible ramifications throughout the fields of immunology, phage treatment, microbiome, and human health.”.
Barr includes, “This work offers brand-new insights into the additional advantages that bacteriophages may have on their mammalian hosts. This is of specific significance given the increased use of phage therapy to deal with antibiotic-resistant infections.”.
Referral: “Mammalian cells internalize bacteriophages and use them as a resource to boost cellular development and survival” by Marion C. Bichet, Jack Adderley, Laura Avellaneda-Franco, Isabelle Magnin-Bougma, Natasha Torriero-Smith, Linden J. Gearing, Celine Deffrasnes, Cassandra David, Genevieve Pepin, Michael P. Gantier, Ruby CY Lin, Ruzeen Patwa, Gregory W. Moseley, Christian Doerig and Jeremy J. Barr, 26 October 2023, PLOS Biology.DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pbio.3002341.
A new research study recommends that mammalian cells might use bacteriophages to foster cell development and survival, using brand-new insights for phage treatment and the study of human health. Bacteriophage particle interacting with mammalian cells. Credit: T2Q and Barr Lab (CC-BY 4.0).
Bacteriophages, also called phages, are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, their natural hosts. However from a macromolecular perspective, phages can be can be viewed as nutritionally enriched packages of nucleotides covered in an amino acid shell.
A study recently released in the journal PLOS Biology performed by Jeremy J. Barr and associates at Monash University in Victoria, Australia, suggests that mammalian cells might internalize phages to utilize them as a resource to promote cellular development and survival.
Research on Phage-Mammalian Cell Interactions.
Phage interactions with germs are popular, and interactions between germs and their mammalian host can cause a variety of symbioses. However, the effect of bacteriophages on mammalian cellular and immunological processes is not well comprehended.
A new study suggests that mammalian cells might use bacteriophages to foster cell development and survival, providing brand-new insights for phage therapy and the research study of human health. Bacteriophage particle connecting with mammalian cells. Credit: T2Q and Barr Lab (CC-BY 4.0).