Email Print Share

All Images


News Release 11-133

When Viruses Infect Bacteria

Looking in vivo at virus-bacterium associations sets stage for better understanding of such interactions in human health

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

Illustration of viruses infecting bacteria in a termite's hindgut.

Virus-bacterium associations were examined in the natural environment of a termite's hindgut. Three general scenarios were seen. In the first (1) there was a one-to-one association: one type of virus matched one type of bacterium host. In the second (2) the host bacterium was associated with a diverse group of viruses, indicating perhaps a more ancient infection or a more susceptible host. In the third case (3) very similar viruses were seen infecting several different types of bacterial hosts.

This study tested methods of examining virus-bacterium interactions in nature, rather than in vitro--from a culture. It opens a new door to understanding the diverse and highly populated world of viruses and bacteria that we know so little about.

Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (375 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Cover of the July 1, 2011 issue of the journal Science.

The researchers' work is described in the July 1, 2011 issue of the journal Science.

Credit: Copyright AAAS 2011


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (1.3 MB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.