Bacteriophages Release Vitamin B12 From Bacteria, Raising Gut Microbe Diversity in 2026 Study
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Aug 16
Bacteriophages Release Vitamin B12 From Bacteria, Raising Gut Microbe Diversity in 2026 Study
2 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · Aug 16
Summary
Virginia Tech researchers found phages can free vitamin B12 locked inside bacteria by lysing producer cells, giving nearby B12-dependent microbes enough nutrient to grow.
Controlled lab tests showed the effect depended on B12 itself: dependent bacteria failed to grow when producer cells stayed intact or when phages burst a genetically modified strain that could not make B12.
Gut-associated bacterial groups showed the same pattern, with phage-released B12 significantly altering community composition and increasing diversity more than simply adding B12 to the medium.
The study in The ISME Journal suggests viruses shape microbial ecosystems not only by killing hosts but also by recycling scarce nutrients across the gut, soil and ocean.