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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...
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...

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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

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

[Bacteriophage lysins: progress and perspective--a review].

Yan Wang1, Chengping Lu

  • 1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, China. wy34201591@126.com

Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao = Acta Microbiologica Sinica
|January 15, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Phage endolysins degrade bacterial cell walls, offering a potent new strategy against antibiotic-resistant gram-positive pathogens. These enzymes show high activity, rapid lysis, and no observed resistance, presenting a feasible solution for drug resistance.

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Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

Context:

  • Bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat, exacerbated by rising antibiotic resistance.
  • Phage endolysins are enzymes derived from bacteriophages that target bacterial cell walls.

Purpose:

  • To explore the potential of phage endolysins as novel therapeutic agents against gram-positive bacterial pathogens.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and characteristics of endolysins in combating drug-resistant bacteria.

Summary:

  • Phage endolysins possess multi-domain structures (catalytic and binding) that enable them to degrade peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall.
  • They demonstrate high specificity and rapid lytic activity against pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Importantly, bacteria have not developed resistance to endolysins, unlike conventional antibiotics.

Impact:

  • Endolysin therapy presents a promising alternative to overcome the challenge of antibiotic resistance.
  • Their high activity, rapid action, synergistic effects with other antibiotics, and resistance to neutralization by antibodies highlight their therapeutic potential.
  • This research suggests endolysins could be a novel approach for preventing and controlling bacterial infections.