瓦伦西亚生物医学研究所Alberto Marina团队的一项最新研究揭示了噬菌体跨物种交流，形成微生物生态系统。2026年3月31日出版的《细胞》发表了这项成果。

课题组通过展示仲裁系统之间的交叉通信来挑战这种观点。利用典型的任意噬菌体，该团队发现AimP肽可以结合并抑制非同源的AimR受体，促进溶原和减少原噬菌体的诱导。结构和生化分析揭示了保守的受体特征，允许交叉识别非同源肽，同时保留同源伙伴的识别。在混合溶原培养中，这些相互作用改变了诱导结果，强调了它们的生态意义。延伸到感染环境，课题组人员证明了串扰有利于在兼容系统的细胞中进入的噬菌体的溶原性。这些发现表明噬菌体通过肽信号参与跨物种交流，以意想不到的方式重塑微生物群落。

据悉，仲裁是一个通讯系统，帮助噬菌体通过分泌肽来决定是裂解还是溶原。在这个系统中，仲裁通讯肽（AimP）结合其同源仲裁受体（AimR）抑制aimX（溶原性负调节因子）的表达，促进溶原性。假设每个AimR只对其自己的AimP作出响应。

附：英文原文

Title: Phages communicate across species to shape microbial ecosystems

Author: Francisca Gallego-del-Sol, Daniel Sin, Cora Chmielowska, Javier Mancheo-Bonillo, Yuyi Li, Sara Zamora-Caballero, Nuria Quiles-Puchalt, José R. Penadés, Alberto Marina

Issue&Volume: 2026-03-31

Abstract: Arbitrium is a communication system that helps bacteriophages to decide between lysis and lysogeny through secreted peptides. In this system, the arbitrium communication peptide (AimP) binds its cognate arbitrium receptor (AimR) to repress aimX (a negative regulator of lysogeny) expression, promoting lysogeny. It has been assumed that each AimR responds exclusively to its own AimP. Here, we challenge this view by demonstrating cross-communication between arbitrium systems. Using prototypical arbitrium phages, we show that AimP peptides can bind and repress non-cognate AimR receptors, promoting lysogeny and reducing prophage induction. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal conserved receptor features that permit cross-recognition of non-cognate peptides while preserving recognition of cognate partners. In mixed lysogenic cultures, these interactions alter induction outcomes, underscoring their ecological significance. Extending to infection contexts, we demonstrate that crosstalk favors lysogeny of incoming phages in cells harboring compatible systems. These findings establish that phages engage in cross-species communication via peptide signaling, reshaping microbial communities in unexpected ways.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.03.004

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(26)00271-0