Pseudomonas predators: understanding and exploiting phage–host interactions

Species in the genusPseudomonas thrive in diverse ecological niches and are infected with equally diverse bacteriophages. In this Review, De Smet et al. discuss the interactions between Pseudomonasspp. and their phages and also address the biotechnological applications that may be derived from phage–bacteria interactions. Species in the genus Pseudomonas thrive in a diverse set of ecological niches and include crucial pathogens, such as the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. The bacteriophages that infect Pseudomonas spp. mirror the widespread and diverse nature of their hosts. Therefore, Pseudomonas spp. and their phages are an ideal system to study the molecular mechanisms that govern virus–host interactions. Furthermore, phages are principal catalysts of host evolution and diversity, which directly affects the ecological roles of environmental and pathogenic Pseudomonas spp. Understanding these interactions not only provides novel insights into phage biology but also advances the development of phage therapy, phage-derived antimicrobial strategies and innovative biotechnological tools that may be derived from phage–bacteria interactions.