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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...
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...
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...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...

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Related Experiment Video

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Bacteriophage Removal from Infected Salmonella Cultures
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Bacteriophage Removal from Infected Salmonella Cultures

Published on: June 28, 2024

Bacteriophages and cancer.

Paulina Budynek1, Krystyna Dabrowska, Grzegorz Skaradziński

  • 1Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Wroclaw, Poland. pola@iitd.pan.wroc.pl

Archives of Microbiology
|March 17, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophages (phages) show potential beyond bacterial infections, influencing physiological and immune responses. This review explores their role in cancer processes and implications for phage therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria, traditionally used for bacterial infections.
  • Emerging evidence suggests phages interact with eukaryotic cells, influencing physiological and immunological processes.
  • These interactions may impact the efficacy and application of phage-based therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the influence of bacteriophages on cancer processes.
  • To explore the implications for phage therapy in cancer patients.
  • To enhance the understanding of bacteriophages' role in human physiology and immunology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on bacteriophage-cancer interactions.

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Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
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Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

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Bacteriophage Removal from Infected Salmonella Cultures
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T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo
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  • Analysis of research on phage effects on physiological and immunological systems.
  • Evaluation of phage purification significance for therapeutic applications.

    • Main Results:

    • Bacteriophages can modulate immunological responses, including cytokine secretion.
    • Phages can alter the tumor microenvironment, potentially benefiting anticancer treatments.
    • Phages serve as platforms for delivering anticancer peptides.
    • Bacterial debris can impede phage efficacy, highlighting the need for phage purification.

    Conclusions:

    • Bacteriophages exhibit multifaceted roles beyond antibacterial activity, including significant interactions with cancer processes.
    • Phage purification is critical for optimizing therapeutic outcomes in phage preparations.
    • Further research into bacteriophage-host interactions holds promise for advancing phage therapy in oncology.