Sustainable Diversity of Phage-Bacteria Systems

TL;DR

This paper reviews how structural, physical, and physiological constraints in phage-bacteria interactions promote sustainable coexistence and diversity in microbial ecosystems.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of factors modulating phage-bacteria interactions that support long-term coexistence and diversity.

Findings

Constraints promote coexistence in microbial systems

Structural and physiological factors influence phage-bacteria dynamics

Sustainable diversity arises from natural modulations

Abstract

Bacteriophages are central to microbial ecosystems for balancing bacterial populations and promoting evolution by applying strong selection pressure. Here we review some of the known aspects that modulate phage-bacteria interaction in a way that naturally promotes their coexistence. We focus on the modulations that arise from structural, physical, or physiological constraints. We argue they should play roles in many phage-bacteria systems providing sustainable diversity.