Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
Published on: October 14, 2011
Influence of internal capsid pressure on viral infection by phage lambda
Sarah Köster1, Alex Evilevitch, Meerim Jeembaeva
1Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract:
Ejection of the genome from the virus, phage lambda, is the initial step in the infection of its host bacterium. In vitro, the ejection depends sensitively on internal pressure within the virus capsid; however, the in vivo effect of internal pressure on infection of bacteria is unknown. Here, we use microfluidics to monitor individual cells and determine the temporal distribution of lysis due to infection as the capsid pressure is varied. The lysis probability decreases markedly with decreased capsid pressure. Of interest, the average lysis times remain the same but the distribution is broadened as the pressure is lowered.
Related Concept Videos
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle
DNA Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

