Stringent response in the infection of lytic phages of Pseudomonas putida

Abstract

As the most abundant group of organisms on Earth, bacteria inhabit nearly every environment and are therefore frequently exposed to stress, including bacteriophage infection. Stringent response, induced by the alarmone molecule (p)ppGpp, is a common stress response in bacteria to overcome different stressful conditions. Pseudomonas putida, known for its versatile metabolism, is widely used in environmental studies and biotechnology. However, the role of stringent response in phage defence remains poorly understood. Therefore, this thesis aims to ascertain whether the stringent response influences the infection of lytic phages in P. putida, focusing on phage adsorption and burst size. The results of this study show that, in general, phage infection in liquid media are consistent with solid media results. While the stringent response does not notably affect adsorption, it can influence the length of latent period and reduce the burst size of infecting phages.