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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...
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...
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: 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...
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...
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...

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Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

Bacteriophage genomics.

Graham F Hatfull1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences & Pittsburgh Bacteriophage Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. gfh@pitt.edu

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|October 1, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteriophage genomes show high genetic diversity and mosaic architectures due to horizontal gene exchange. These viruses represent a vast, unexplored reservoir of novel genes with significant implications for virosphere research.

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Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

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Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
08:31

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

Published on: May 26, 2013

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

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The number of sequenced bacteriophage genomes has rapidly increased, exceeding 500 in the NCBI database.
  • These genomes represent diverse bacterial hosts, though a few hosts dominate the current dataset.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze key features of recently sequenced bacteriophage genomes.
  • To understand the evolutionary patterns and genetic content of bacteriophages.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of over 500 sequenced bacteriophage genomes.
  • Examination of genome architecture and genetic diversity.

Main Results:

  • Bacteriophage genomes exhibit high genetic diversity, suggesting ancient evolutionary origins.
  • Genome architectures are mosaic, indicating significant horizontal genetic exchange.
  • A large proportion of phage genomes consist of novel genes with unknown functions.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophages possess a vast reservoir of unexplored genetic material.
  • Further characterization of bacteriophage genomes will refine our understanding of the virosphere.
  • The evolutionary history of bacteriophages is marked by extensive genetic exchange and diversity.