Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages (pronounced: bac·te·rio·phage /bækˈtɪərɪəˌfeɪdʒ/) are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. The term is derived from the Greek words bakterion meaning "small rod" and phagein meaning "to eat".
Bacteriophages are among the most common and diverse entities in the biosphere. They are composed of proteins that encapsulate a DNA or RNA genome, and may have relatively simple or elaborate structures. Their genomes may encode as few as four genes, and as many as hundreds of genes.
Life Cycle
Bacteriophages undergo a lytic cycle or a lysogenic cycle. In the lytic cycle, the bacteriophage makes maximal use of the cell's machinery with little regard for the survival of the host cell. Once the cell is depleted of its resources, it lyses or ruptures, releasing the newly produced bacteriophages. In the lysogenic cycle, the bacteriophage integrates its DNA into the host's genome, where it can remain dormant for a long period before becoming active and replicating.
Classification
Bacteriophages are classified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) based on morphology and nucleic acid.
Applications
Bacteriophages have been used for over a century as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Central Europe, as well as in France. They are seen as a possible therapy against multi-drug-resistant strains of many bacteria.
See Also
References
External Links
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