Investigating prophage induction dynamics and mechanisms behind prophage induction in B. subtilis

Abstract

Bacteria can have heterogeneous behaviors in response to various stresses, which can lead them to adapt to stressful environments like antibiotic treatment. In the past, studies were limited to investigating heterogeneity a gene at a time, but now through single cell RNA-sequencing, we can assess heterogeneity for all genes in Bacillus subtilis and found that genes involved in prophage induction are expressed heterogeneously in B. subtilis treated with ciprofloxacin. Prophage induction has been well-studied in the model bacterium E. coli but not as intensely observed in bacteria like B. subtilis that is known to have multiple active prophages. In hopes of narrowing the gap in knowledge on prophage induction, this study finds that antibiotic exposure duration and dosage influence prophage induction in B. subtilis and discovers new drug conditions that induce SPβ and PBSX prophages. Results also suggest yokI, yopK, and yopQ genes to be involved in the cross-talk of prophage induction in B. subtilis. With findings obtained from this study, we can further understand the potential mechanisms behind the heterogeneity of prophage induction and use them to our advantage to develop future antimicrobials that can take advantage of the pre-existing prophages to kill bacteria by activating specific prophages.