We commonly acknowledge that bacterial viruses (phages) shape the composition and
evolution of bacterial communities in nature and therefore have important roles in ecosystem …

Most bacteria attach to biotic or abiotic surfaces and are embedded in a complex matrix
which is known as biofilm. Biofilm formation is especially worrisome in clinical settings as it …

Bacteriophages drive evolutionary change in bacterial communities by creating gene flow
networks that fuel ecological adaptions. However, the extent of viral diversity and its …

Plasmids have a key role in bacterial ecology and evolution because they mobilize
accessory genes by horizontal gene transfer. However, recent studies have revealed that …

Gene exchange between viruses and their hosts acts as a key facilitator of horizontal gene
transfer and is hypothesized to be a major driver of evolutionary change. Our understanding …

The production and use of antibiotics are becoming increasingly common worldwide, and
the problem of antibiotic resistance is increasing alarmingly. Drug‐resistant infections …

Bacteriophages (phages) are often described as obligate predators of their bacterial hosts,
and phage predation is one of the leading forces controlling the density and distribution of …

Highlights•The human gut microbiome harbours antibiotic resistance genes ('the
resistome').•Antibiotic resistance genes can spread in the gut microbiome through horizontal …

Bacteria encode sophisticated anti-phage systems that are diverse and versatile and display
high genetic mobility. How this variability and mobility occurs remains largely unknown …

For most of human history, bacterial pathogens have been a major cause of disease and
mortality. The development of antibiotics provided a simple and effective treatment for …