The Role of Bacteriophage-Derived Small RNA Molecules in Bacterial and Phage Interactions
Natalia Lewandowska,
Sylwia Bloch,
Aleksandra Łukasiak,
Wojciech Wesołowski,
Grzegorz Węgrzyn,
Bożena Nejman-Faleńczyk
Affiliations
Natalia Lewandowska
Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
Sylwia Bloch
Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
Aleksandra Łukasiak
Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
Wojciech Wesołowski
Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
Grzegorz Węgrzyn
Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
Bożena Nejman-Faleńczyk
Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) play a critical role in bacterial gene expression, modulating various cellular processes, including stress responses, metabolism, virulence, and many others. While well-characterized in bacterial systems, an emerging class of phage-derived sRNAs has been identified, suggesting an underexplored regulatory network at phage–host interactions. These sRNAs, encoded within phage genomes, influence both bacterial and viral life cycles by modulating transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression processes. The interplay between phage-derived sRNAs and the host genome reveals a complex network of gene regulation, with an impact on bacterial fitness, pathogenesis, and horizontal gene transfer. This review explores the diverse functions of phage-encoded sRNAs, highlighting recent discoveries and their impact on bacterial physiology and phage-host interactions.
