Bacteria-phage coevolution as a driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in microbial communities

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bacteria-phage coevolution as a driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in microbial communities

AU - Koskella, Britt

AU - Brockhurst, Michael A.

PY - 2014/9/1

Y1 - 2014/9/1

N2 - Bacteria-phage coevolution, the reciprocal evolution between bacterial hosts and the phages that infect them, is an important driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in microbial communities. There is growing evidence from both laboratory and natural populations that coevolution can maintain phenotypic and genetic diversity, increase the rate of bacterial and phage evolution and divergence, affect community structure, and shape the evolution of ecologically relevant bacterial traits. Although the study of bacteria-phage coevolution is still in its infancy, with open questions regarding the specificity of the interaction, the gene networks of coevolving partners, and the relative importance of the coevolving interaction in complex communities and environments, there have recently been major advancements in the field. In this review, we sum up our current understanding of bacteria-phage coevolution both in the laboratory and in nature, discuss recent findings on both the coevolutionary process itself and the impact of coevolution on bacterial phenotype, diversity and interactions with other species (particularly their eukaryotic hosts), and outline future directions for the field. Empirical evidence for bacteria-phage coevolution from both laboratory and natural populations suggests that coevolution is a key driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in microbial communities.

AB - Bacteria-phage coevolution, the reciprocal evolution between bacterial hosts and the phages that infect them, is an important driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in microbial communities. There is growing evidence from both laboratory and natural populations that coevolution can maintain phenotypic and genetic diversity, increase the rate of bacterial and phage evolution and divergence, affect community structure, and shape the evolution of ecologically relevant bacterial traits. Although the study of bacteria-phage coevolution is still in its infancy, with open questions regarding the specificity of the interaction, the gene networks of coevolving partners, and the relative importance of the coevolving interaction in complex communities and environments, there have recently been major advancements in the field. In this review, we sum up our current understanding of bacteria-phage coevolution both in the laboratory and in nature, discuss recent findings on both the coevolutionary process itself and the impact of coevolution on bacterial phenotype, diversity and interactions with other species (particularly their eukaryotic hosts), and outline future directions for the field. Empirical evidence for bacteria-phage coevolution from both laboratory and natural populations suggests that coevolution is a key driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in microbial communities.

KW - Antagonistic

KW - Bacteriophage

KW - Host-parasite

KW - Infection

KW - Resistance

KW - Species interaction

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896588752&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/1574-6976.12072

DO - 10.1111/1574-6976.12072

M3 - Article

SN - 0168-6445

VL - 38

SP - 916

EP - 931

JO - FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS

JF - FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS

IS - 5

ER -