TITLE:

BACTERIOPHAGE ON MUCUS: THE HIRED KILLERS OF THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM

DATE:

Friday, Oct 10th, 2012

TIME:

3:30 PM

LOCATION:

GMCS 214

SPEAKER:

Jeremy Barr.
Postdoctoral Fellow.
San Diego State University.

ABSTRACT:

Body surfaces where animals meet an aqueous environment are typically covered by
a protective mucus layer. These exposed surfaces are also where most animal
pathogens gain entry to their host. A key component of mucus is the host
produced mucin glycoproteins, which form a physical barrier and also provide
other anti-microbial defenses. We show that bacteriophage (phage), the
omnipresent predators of bacteria, adhere to these mucus surfaces by
interacting with mucin. Both laboratory studies and mathematical models
show that this interaction leads to an increased concentration of phage
in the mucus layer, which subsequently increases the likelihood that a
bacterial pathogen will encounter a phage while crossing the mucus layer
en route to the underlying host cells. Hence, the adherent phage provide a
non-host-derived innate immunity for animals ranging from corals to humans.
Phage are specialized bacterial killers that can rapidly adapt to infect the
specific bacteria present. They can also rapidly adapt adherence to the various
mucins made by the host in different locations or circumstances. Thus the phage
provide an adaptable and specific innate immunity. Based on these observations,
we present the Bacteriophage Adherence to Mucus (BAM) model, which describes a
specific but non-host-derived immunity applicable to all mucosal surfaces. The
relationships shown here make the phage central to the metazoan immune system
and open a new arena for immunological study.

HOST:

Dr. Forest Rohwer.

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