Black box of phage–bacterium interactions: exploring alternative phage infection strategies Black box of phage–bacterium interactions: exploring alternative phage infection strategies

Abstract

1. ## Introduction Viruses infecting bacteria (bacteriophages or phages) are the most abundant biological entities on Earth and play a critical role in the ecology and evolution of their bacterial hosts. Lytic and lysogenic cycles are the best-described phage lifestyles. However, it has become apparent that this traditional bifurcation oversimplifies the intricacies of phage-host interactions. Mounting evidence has emerged on the existence and significance of other phage infection strategies, deviating from the classical lytic-lysogenic binary. Pseudolysogeny, carrier state and chronic infecti