Modeling the control of bacterial infections via antibiotic-induced proviruses

Most bacteria and archaea are infected by latent viruses that change their physiology and responses to environmental stress. We use a population model of the bacteria-phage relationship to examine the role that latent phage play on the bacterial population over time in response to antibiotic treatment. We demonstrate that the stress induced by antibiotic administration, even if bacteria are resistant to killing by antibiotics, is sufficient to control the infection under certain conditions. This work expands the breadth of understanding of phage-antibiotic synergy to include both temperate and chronic viruses persisting in their latent form in bacterial populations.