Lysis, lysogeny and virus–microbe ratios

In response to the Article by Knowles et al.1, we present analyses that we believe challenge the Piggyback-the-Winner model and the proposed mechanistic link between increases in lysogeny, suppression of lysis, and the decline of the virus-to-microbial cell ratio (VMR) at high microbial cell densities. We argue that an integrated research approach that combines mechanistic models with measurements inside and outside cells is needed to assess the importance and relevance of lysogeny in diverse microbiomes. There is a Reply to this Comment by Knowles, B & Rohwer, F. Nature 549, 10.1038/nature23296 (2017).