A new study published Thursday showed that viruses can stealthily control their bacterial hosts by deploying a hidden weapon – small RNA molecules – uncovering a previously unknown layer of biological warfare between viruses and their hosts.

According to the study in the journal Molecular Cell, Israeli and U.S. researchers mapped the complex RNA interactions inside E. coli bacteria during infection by a virus called lambda phage.

Using an advanced technique, they observed for the first time an extensive network of RNA "conversations," not only within the bacteria but also between the bacteria and the invading virus.

The study pinpointed a key viral agent: a tiny, virus-encoded RNA named PreS. It acts like a molecular Trojan horse, produced by the virus during its active replication cycle.

Rather than attacking the host directly, it binds to the bacteria's genetic instructions, specifically the messenger RNA (mRNA) responsible for DNA replication.

By altering the structure of this host RNA, the virus tricks the bacteria into overproducing the machinery needed to copy DNA. The virus then co-opts that machinery to churn out its own genetic material, accelerating the production of viral offspring.

Experiments showed that disabling PreS significantly reduced viral replication, according to the study.

Furthermore, the study noted that similar PreS sequences are found in diverse viruses and bacterial genomes, suggesting this could be a widespread strategy in the microbial world.

The research opens new avenues for understanding infection dynamics and may inform future approaches to manipulate viral behavior or design novel antimicrobial strategies.