Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system

IntroductionBacteriophages influence interactions between bacterial symbionts and their hosts by exerting parasitic pressure on symbiont populations and facilitating bacterial evolution through selection, gene exchange, and prophage integration. Host organisms also modulate phage-bacteria interactio...

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Main Authors: Susanne DiSalvo, Negar Maness, Andrew Braun, My Tran, Andrew Hofferkamp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1537073/full
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author Susanne DiSalvo
Negar Maness
Andrew Braun
My Tran
Andrew Hofferkamp
author_facet Susanne DiSalvo
Negar Maness
Andrew Braun
My Tran
Andrew Hofferkamp
author_sort Susanne DiSalvo
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionBacteriophages influence interactions between bacterial symbionts and their hosts by exerting parasitic pressure on symbiont populations and facilitating bacterial evolution through selection, gene exchange, and prophage integration. Host organisms also modulate phage-bacteria interactions, with host-specific contexts potentially limiting or promoting phage access to bacterial symbionts or driving alternative phenotypic or evolutionary outcomes.MethodsTo better elucidate tripartite phage-bacteria-host interactions in real-time, we expanded the Dictyostelium discoideum-Paraburkholderia symbiosis system to include Paraburkholderia-specific phages. We isolated six environmental Paraburkholderia phages from soil samples using a multi-host enrichment approach. We also identified a functional prophage from monocultures of one of the Paraburkholderia symbiont strains implemented in the enrichment approach. These phages were evaluated across all three amoeba-associated Paraburkholderia symbiont species. Finally, we treated Paraburkholderia infected amoeba lines with select phage isolates and assessed their effects on symbiont prevalence and host fitness.ResultsThe isolated phages exhibited diverse plaquing characteristics and virion morphologies, collectively targeting Paraburkholderia strains belonging to each of the amoeba-symbiotic species. Following amoeba treatment experiments, we observed that phage application in some cases reduced symbiont infection prevalence and alleviated host fitness impacts, while in others, no significant effects were noted. Notably, phages were able to persist within the symbiont-infected amoeba populations over multiple culture transfers, indicating potential long-term interactions.DiscussionThese findings highlight the variability of phage-symbiont interactions within a host environment and underscore the complex nature of phage treatment outcomes. The observed variability lays the foundation for future studies exploring the long-term dynamics of tripartite systems, suggesting potential mechanisms that may shape differential phage treatment outcomes and presenting valuable avenues for future investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-7779de2aaa244a5e91d5cfc6c5004e992025-08-20T01:55:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-05-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15370731537073Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis systemSusanne DiSalvoNegar ManessAndrew BraunMy TranAndrew HofferkampIntroductionBacteriophages influence interactions between bacterial symbionts and their hosts by exerting parasitic pressure on symbiont populations and facilitating bacterial evolution through selection, gene exchange, and prophage integration. Host organisms also modulate phage-bacteria interactions, with host-specific contexts potentially limiting or promoting phage access to bacterial symbionts or driving alternative phenotypic or evolutionary outcomes.MethodsTo better elucidate tripartite phage-bacteria-host interactions in real-time, we expanded the Dictyostelium discoideum-Paraburkholderia symbiosis system to include Paraburkholderia-specific phages. We isolated six environmental Paraburkholderia phages from soil samples using a multi-host enrichment approach. We also identified a functional prophage from monocultures of one of the Paraburkholderia symbiont strains implemented in the enrichment approach. These phages were evaluated across all three amoeba-associated Paraburkholderia symbiont species. Finally, we treated Paraburkholderia infected amoeba lines with select phage isolates and assessed their effects on symbiont prevalence and host fitness.ResultsThe isolated phages exhibited diverse plaquing characteristics and virion morphologies, collectively targeting Paraburkholderia strains belonging to each of the amoeba-symbiotic species. Following amoeba treatment experiments, we observed that phage application in some cases reduced symbiont infection prevalence and alleviated host fitness impacts, while in others, no significant effects were noted. Notably, phages were able to persist within the symbiont-infected amoeba populations over multiple culture transfers, indicating potential long-term interactions.DiscussionThese findings highlight the variability of phage-symbiont interactions within a host environment and underscore the complex nature of phage treatment outcomes. The observed variability lays the foundation for future studies exploring the long-term dynamics of tripartite systems, suggesting potential mechanisms that may shape differential phage treatment outcomes and presenting valuable avenues for future investigation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1537073/fullbacteriophagesymbiosisDictyostelium discoideumamoebaParaburkholderia
spellingShingle Susanne DiSalvo
Negar Maness
Andrew Braun
My Tran
Andrew Hofferkamp
Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system
Frontiers in Microbiology
bacteriophage
symbiosis
Dictyostelium discoideum
amoeba
Paraburkholderia
title Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system
title_full Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system
title_fullStr Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system
title_full_unstemmed Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system
title_short Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system
title_sort tracking tripartite interaction dynamics isolation integration and influence of bacteriophages in the paraburkholderia dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system
topic bacteriophage
symbiosis
Dictyostelium discoideum
amoeba
Paraburkholderia
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1537073/full
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