Distinct effects of mucin on phage-host interactions in model systems of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria

Jakin Lazar, Jaka (author), Šimunović, Katarina (author), Dogša, Iztok (author), Mandić-Mulec, Ines (author), Middelboe, Mathias (author), Dragoš, Anna (author)

Phage-host interactions that occur in host-associated microbiomes are influenced by a plethora of environmental factors. Mucins are glycoproteins that represent the main component of mucus, which is found in the animal digestive tract and on the surface of certain organs, serving as the first line of defense against toxins and pathogens. Previous studies have shown that lytic phages have an important influence on the microbial composition in mucosal areas. Our study expands this knowledge to interactions between previously untested lytic phages targeting probiotic and pathogenic bacteria, as well as temperate phages targeting probiotic bacteria. These interactions could be important in shaping microbial communities and affecting the well-being of their host. This study demonstrates that mucins enhance the adherence of Vibrio anguillarum lytic phages and Bacillus subtilis lytic and temperate phages, as well as B. subtilis and V. anguillarum cells, to solid surfaces. Our results also show that mucins positively affect the attachment of B. subtilis cells even in the presence of phages. This positive effect was not observed in the case of V. anguillarum. This suggests that mucin may shield certain bacteria from phage infections. We also found that mucin influenced the metabolic activity of the two tested bacterial species differently, with strong positive effects on V. anguillarum but not on B. subtilis. This work supports previous findings that phages adhere efficiently to mucus and extends these studies to include other beneficial and pathogenic bacterial species. It also reveals that mucins have different effects on phage-host interactions in different phage-host systems, which may have implications for phage therapies or probiotic treatment strategies.

• Language: English
• Keywords: bacteriophages, interactions, mucins, Bacillus subtilis
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 170, iss. 6, art. 133
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169289
• UDC: 579.2
• ISSN on article: 0304-8608
• DOI: 10.1007/s00705-025-06322-5
• COBISS.SI-ID: 236612611
• Publication date in RUL: 22.05.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Archives of virology
• Shortened title: Arch. virol.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 0304-8608
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25007872

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: bakteriofagi, interakcije, mucini, Bacillus subtilis