Bacteriophage-driven DNA inversions in Bacteroides fragilis shape bacterial functionality and long-term co-existence

The long-term effects of the lytic Bacteroides-associated bacteriophage Barc2635 on the functional plasticity of the gut commensal B. fragilis. By colonizing germ-free (GF) mice with B. fragilis and introducing the phage Barc2635, we sought to observe genomic alterations in the bacteria that can result in phenotypic changes and affect bacterial interactions with the host.