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Related Concept Videos

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...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
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...
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...
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...
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...

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Further observations on the mechanism of phage action.

The Journal of general physiology·2010
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Effect of penicillin on the reaction between phage and staphylococci.

Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2010
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THE ELECTRICAL CHARGE OF BACTERIOPHAGE.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2009
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THE PREPARATION OF RELATIVELY PURE BACTERIOPHAGE.

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THE PREPARATION OF A GRADED SERIES OF ULTRAFILTERS AND MEASUREMENT OF THEIR PORE SIZES.

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Bacteriophage Removal from Infected Salmonella Cultures
07:19

Bacteriophage Removal from Infected Salmonella Cultures

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THE REVERSIBLE INACTIVATION OF BACTERIOPHAGE BY BICHLORIDE OF MERCURY.

A P Krueger1, D M Baldwin

  • 1Department of Bacteriology, University of California, Berkeley.

The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Antistaphylococcal phage inactivated by mercury(II) chloride can be revived by removing the mercury. This suggests the phage behaves like an enzyme, not living cells.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.
  • Mercury compounds can inactivate biological agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reversibility of mercury-induced inactivation of antistaphylococcal phage.
  • To determine if the phage's response to mercury aligns with enzyme or cellular properties.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of antistaphylococcal phage to mercury(II) chloride (HgCl2) solution.
  • Reversal of inactivation by precipitating mercury ions (Hg++).
  • Titration to assess phage activity before and after treatment.

Main Results:

  • Complete inactivation of antistaphylococcal phage by 2.8% HgCl2 over 216 hours.

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  • Restoration of original phage titre upon removal of Hg++.
  • Demonstrated reversibility of phage inactivation.

    • Conclusions:

    • The reversible inactivation of antistaphylococcal phage by mercury suggests a non-living, potentially enzymatic, mechanism.
    • Phage inactivation and reactivation by mercury differ from typical effects on living protoplasm.