Progress in the host recognition mechanisms of Podoviridae phages

Abstract:

Bacteriophages can serve as an alternative for antibiotics. Tailed phages are the most common phages and can be classified into three families, including Podoviridae, Siphoviridae, and Myoviridae according to the different tail structures. Different phages vary in morphology and host recognition mechanism. It is therefore valuable to explore the host recognition mechanisms of Podoviridae phages with simple structure and short genome, which would be benefit for the research on phage-host co-evolutionary relationship and the phage genetic engineering. We reviewed the taxonomic characteristics and different host recognition mechanisms of Podoviridae phages. Deciphering the host recognition mechanisms can help solve the problems in the application of Podoviridae phages, which will contribute to the use of phages in biological, medical, and food industrial fields.