IV Jornadas Latinoamericanas de Bacteriófagos

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and play central roles in microbial ecology and evolution, while gaining increasing importance in biotechnology and therapeutic applications. During infection, phages reprogram host transcription and metabolism, to support viral replication. Despite their importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain poorly understood. Elucidating them is relevant both for fundamental biology and for the development of phage-based therapeutic strategies. Here, we aim to characterize the temporal dynamics of gene expression during infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 by the lytic phages ZC01 (Bradleyvirinae; Abidjanvirus) and ZC03 (Schitoviridae; Zicotriavirus), using dual RNA sequencing to simultaneously capture phage and host gene expression throughout the infection cycle. Bacterial cultures were independently infected with each phage, and samples were collected at multiple time points across the latent period. Transcriptomic profiling revealed distinct temporal expression programs: ZC01 displayed predominantly early and late transcriptional phases, and induced rapid, extensive host transcriptional remodeling within 5 minutes post-infection, consistent with an aggressive metabolic takeover. In contrast, ZC03 followed a canonical early–middle–late expression program and promoted a more gradual host reprogramming, with pronounced metabolic disruption emerging after 30 minutes. Despite divergent temporal dynamics, both phages converged on common host response, including iron acquisition, quorum sensing and Pf1-like prophage content highlighting conserved response of lytic infection. Together, our findings demonstrate that genetically distinct phages deploy contrasting takeover kinetics while targeting common metabolic hubs in P. aeruginosa PA14, providing mechanistic insights into phage-driven host reprogramming with implications in phage-based applications.