Open AccessAlternating lysis and lysogeny is a winning strategy in bacteriophages due to Parrondo's paradox
Author(s) -
Kang Hao Cheong,
Tao Wen,
Sean Benler,
Jin Koh,
Eugene V. Koonin
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2115145119
Subject(s) - lysogenic cycle , bacteriophage , lysis , biology , host (biology) , genome , bacterial virus , genetics , population , virus , gene , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , demography , sociology
Significance Bacteriophages, the most widespread reproducing biological entity on Earth, employ two strategies of virus–host interaction: lysis of the host cell and lysogeny whereby the virus genome integrates into the host genome and propagates vertically with it. We present a population model that reveals an effect known as Parrondo’s paradox in game theory: Alternating between lysis and lysogeny is a winning strategy for a bacteriophage, even when each strategy individually is at a disadvantage compared with a competing bacteriophage. Thus, evolution of bacteriophages appears to optimize the ratio between the lysis and lysogeny propensities rather than the phage burst size in any individual phase. This phenomenon is likely to be relevant for understanding evolution of other host–parasites systems.