Our research

Phages are bacterial killers, but they can also integrate into bacterial DNA and replicate together with their host as a prophage. Prophage can change the behavior, social interactions and evolution of its bacterial host.

Our model host is Bacillus subtilis, a cosmopolitan spore-forming bacterium known for PGPR and probiotic properties.

Roughly 40% of natural B. subtilis isolates carry SPβ-like prophages. They are large, equipped with host-controlling genetic arsenal, they act as regulatory switches and they tend to recombine with each other.