Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome01:23

Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects its...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Collaboration between a temperate phage and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> quorum sensing constrains social cheats.

mBio·2025
Same author

Results of TOR001: An open-label single patient study using targeted bacteriophage therapy for the treatment of chronic urinary tract infection.

International journal of antimicrobial agents·2025
Same author

Summary of taxonomy changes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) from the Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee, 2025.

The Journal of general virology·2025
Same author

The TolC and Lipopolysaccharide-Specific <i>Escherichia coli</i> Bacteriophage TLS-the <i>Tlsvirus</i> Archetype Virus.

PHAGE (New Rochelle, N.Y.)·2024
Same author

Multireceptor phage cocktail against <i>Salmonella enterica</i> to circumvent phage resistance.

microLife·2024
Same author

Degradation of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> biofilm by phages belonging to the genus <i>Pecentumvirus</i>.

Applied and environmental microbiology·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

Phage Therapy - Everything Old is New Again.

Andrew M Kropinski1

  • 1Host and Pathogen Determinants, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.

The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology = Journal Canadien Des Maladies Infectieuses Et De La Microbiologie Medicale
|April 3, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteriophages (phages), bacterial viruses, are crucial in molecular biology and genetics. Phage therapy is being re-evaluated for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Keywords:
Bacterial virusBacteriophageDiagnostic toolsHuman and animal studiesNovel therapiesPhage therapyPhage typingPhagotherapy

More Related Videos

Precise Phage Mutagenesis with NgTET-Assisted CRISPR-Cas Systems
10:52

Precise Phage Mutagenesis with NgTET-Assisted CRISPR-Cas Systems

Published on: October 14, 2025

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo
08:46

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo

Published on: January 26, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

Precise Phage Mutagenesis with NgTET-Assisted CRISPR-Cas Systems
10:52

Precise Phage Mutagenesis with NgTET-Assisted CRISPR-Cas Systems

Published on: October 14, 2025

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo
08:46

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo

Published on: January 26, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Bacteriology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Bacteriophages (phages) were instrumental in establishing molecular biology and microbial genetics.
  • Phages have significantly influenced bacterial evolution, pathogenicity, and gene transfer mechanisms.
  • Phages offer valuable tools for molecular biology, including cloning vectors and enzymes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce phage biology.
  • To discuss the historical and current applications of phage therapy.
  • To explore the benefits and challenges of using phages to treat bacterial infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical and current scientific literature on bacteriophages.
  • Analysis of phage biology, genetics, and their role in bacterial evolution.
  • Examination of phage therapy's efficacy and limitations, particularly concerning antibiotic resistance.

Main Results:

  • Phages have provided fundamental insights into DNA replication, transcription, translation, and horizontal gene transfer.
  • Phages have shaped bacterial evolution and pathogenicity.
  • Phage therapy, though historically used, is gaining renewed interest due to rising antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophages are essential tools in molecular biology and genetics.
  • Phage therapy presents a potential alternative or adjunct to antibiotics, especially against resistant strains.
  • Further research is needed to optimize phage therapy's application and overcome existing challenges.