We study microbes and their infecting viruses in natural and host-associated ecosystems using meta-omics approaches.
Hefei, China
Joined April 2016
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We identify conjugative megaplasmids in the human gut that embed intact temperate prophage genomes and may enable cross-lineage viral dissemination.
We propose a plasmid-mediated route for temperate phage spread.
biorxiv.org/cgi/content/shor…
Together, our findings support a model in which conjugative megaplasmids transfer intact prophage genomes across bacterial lineages, decoupling lysogenic spread from infective host range. Experimental validation will clarify the ecological impact of this route.
LinXingChen retweeted
A prevalent huge phage clade in human and animal gut microbiomes biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/… #biorxiv_micrbio
📢 Preprint out. We are delighted to share our recent work regarding jumbo phages (or huge phages) from the Chen Lab at USTC, The hidden prevalence and unique protein folds of huge phages, which is available at bioRxiv, biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/…
Additionally, 3% of the HPDB clusters were absent in other viral forms, including the plasmid-originated ArdC that could protect huge phages from the antiviral mechanisms of their hosts. HPDB contains thousands of other huge phages specific structures.
