The Scientist - USA (2021-02)

VOL. 35 ISSUE 2 | THE SCIENTIST A

Some bacteria produce phages as
weapons against other taxa.

Bacteria may coopt phage particles

to transfer bacterial genes coding

for antibiotic resistance and other

useful traits in a process known as

lateral transduction.

Glycoproteins

Some phages can interact with glycoproteins on the

surface of mammalian cells in the gut and could form

an antibacterial barrier that protects the gut wall from

potential attacks by bacteria.

Antibody

Some phages prompt a direct response—

triggering, among other things, the production

of phage-specific antibodies—from the

mammalian immune system, and may worsen

inflammatory disease.

T cell