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DNA Bacteriophages

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 Bacteriophages

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 Bacteriophages

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 Cycle

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...

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

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 Virome

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

An Adapted Optical Density-Based Microplate Assay for Characterizing Actinobacteriophage Infection

An Adapted Optical Density-Based Microplate Assay for Characterizing Actinobacteriophage Infection

Published on: June 30, 2023

Phage host range and efficiency of plating.

Elizabeth Kutter¹

¹The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|December 11, 2008

Summary

Determining bacteriophage host range and efficiency of plating (EOP) is crucial for phage characterization. This chapter outlines rapid methods to assess which bacterial strains a phage can infect and its relative plating efficiency on each.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Virology
Bacteriophage Research

Background:

Bacteriophage host range defines its biological characteristics and lytic capabilities.
Host factors like O antigens and restriction enzymes can significantly impact phage efficiency of plating (EOP).
Accurate EOP determination is essential for understanding phage-host interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe rapid procedures for determining bacteriophage host range.
To outline methods for assessing the relative efficiency of plating (EOP) on various bacterial hosts.
To provide a practical guide for phage characterization.

Main Methods:

Phage isolation and purification.
Serial dilution and plating on diverse bacterial strains.

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Synthesis of Infectious Bacteriophages in an E. coli-based Cell-free Expression System

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Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Plating Methods

Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Plating Methods

Published on: May 11, 2012

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Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

An Adapted Optical Density-Based Microplate Assay for Characterizing Actinobacteriophage Infection

An Adapted Optical Density-Based Microplate Assay for Characterizing Actinobacteriophage Infection

Published on: June 30, 2023

Synthesis of Infectious Bacteriophages in an E. coli-based Cell-free Expression System

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Published on: August 17, 2017

Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Plating Methods

Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Plating Methods

Published on: May 11, 2012

Calculation of relative efficiency of plating (EOP) based on plaque counts.

Main Results:

Established protocols for rapid host range determination.
Quantified relative EOP across different bacterial genera, species, and strains.
Demonstrated variability in EOP due to specific host factors.

Conclusions:

Rapid methods enable efficient characterization of bacteriophage host range and EOP.
Understanding EOP variability is key to successful phage application.
These procedures are vital for phage biology and potential therapeutic uses.