Novel Streptomyces satellite-helper phage systems Mulch and Flayer include a virulent satellite phage

Researchers at the University of Maryland Baltimore County describe two satellite-helper phage systems infecting Streptomyces species, which they call the first examples of bacteriophage satellite viruses. The Flayer satellite does not appear to integrate into the host genome and has a tail adaptation that lets it attach to its helper for simultaneous co-infection.