Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

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

A mutant of bacteriophage phiX174 which infects E. coli K12 strains. I. Isolation and partial characterization of

D R Bone1, C E Dowell

  • 1Department of Bacteriology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.

Virology
|April 1, 1973
PubMed

Insights

A new bacteriophage phiX174 mutant, phiXtB, infects E. coli K12 strains. This mutant exhibits altered temperature range, sedimentation, and replication, potentially involving novel DNA forms.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Bacteriophage phiX174 is a well-studied model organism.
  • Its host range is typically limited to specific E. coli strains.
  • Understanding phage-host interactions is crucial for molecular biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a novel mutant of bacteriophage phiX174, designated phiXtB.
  • To investigate the altered host range and physical properties of phiXtB.
  • To explore the replication mechanism of phiXtB in E. coli.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage mutants.
  • Infection efficiency assays across different E. coli strains (K12, C, B).
  • Analysis of physical properties (sedimentation, density) and replication intermediates.

Main Results:

  • Isolated phiXtB mutant demonstrates infectivity towards E. coli K12 strains.
  • phiXtB shows reduced infectivity on E. coli strains C and B.
  • The mutant displays an altered temperature range for plating.
  • phiXtB particles exhibit slightly faster sedimentation and increased density compared to wild-type phiX174.
  • Replication involves known intracellular DNA forms and a potential novel DNA species.

Conclusions:

  • phiXtB represents a significant genetic variant of bacteriophage phiX174 with an expanded host range.
  • The observed alterations in physical properties and replication suggest underlying genetic changes affecting phage-host interactions.
  • Further research into the novel DNA species could elucidate unique replication strategies.

More Related Videos

Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda06:10

Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda

Published on: October 14, 2011

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi09:01

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Published on: September 28, 2022

Related Concept Videos

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...
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
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...
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...