New research from the University of Exeter reveals that viruses, specifically phages that infect bacteria, can eavesdrop on chemical signals from other phage species. While these signals inform phages whether to kill their host or lie dormant, eavesdropping can lead to poor decision-making for the virus receiving the signal. Instead of optimizing their own survival strategy, they might mistakenly choose to remain dormant, which benefits the signaling phage but harms the eavesdropping one. This finding enhances our understanding of viral communication and its potential implications for fields like human health. The study’s results are published in Cell.
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Link to original article source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260331/Viruses-eavesdrop-on-signals-but-risk-making-harmful-decisions.aspx
