Prophage-Dependent Neighbor Predation Fosters Horizontal Gene Transfer by Natural Transformation

Prophages are nearly ubiquitous in bacterial species. These integrated phage elements have previously been implicated in horizontal gene transfer (HGT) largely through their ability to carry out transduction (generalized or specialized). Here, we show that prophage-encoded viral particles promote neighbor predation leading to enhanced HGT by natural transformation in the waterborne pathogen Vibrio cholerae . Our findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic forces involved in prophage maintenance which ultimately drive the evolution of naturally competent bacteria in their natural environment.