Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through TranscriptomicsRevathy Krishnamurthi 1, Enrique González-Tortuero 2, Grace Plahe 2, Ian B. Goodhead 2, Joanne L. Fothergill 1, Chloë E. James 2, Heather E. Allison 1
1Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, 2School of Science, Engineering, and Environment, University of Salford
This protocol enables the impact of prophages on their hosts to be revealed. Bacterial cultures are synchronized using conditions that best support the lysogenic state, limiting spontaneous induction. RT-qPCR unequivocally distinguishes prophage-restricted genes and those uncoupled from phage control from those that are expressed during the lytic replication cycle.