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Related Concept Videos

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DNA Bacteriophages

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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...
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Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

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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...
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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...
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Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

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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...
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Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

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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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Transformation01:26

Transformation

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Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
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Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
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Phage DNA dynamics in cells with different fates.

Qiuyan Shao1, Alexander Hawkins1, Lanying Zeng1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

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|April 23, 2015
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Summary

Bacteriophage lambda DNA exhibits distinct movement patterns within Escherichia coli, showing localized or whole-cell motion. This phage DNA movement is subdiffusive and does not influence early infection pathway decisions.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Bacteriophage lambda initiates infection by injecting DNA into Escherichia coli.
  • The phage DNA can follow either a lytic or lysogenic pathway, determining the host cell's fate.
  • Understanding phage DNA dynamics is crucial for deciphering infection mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of bacteriophage lambda DNA within live Escherichia coli cells.
  • To determine how phage DNA movement correlates with infection pathways (lytic vs. lysogenic).
  • To identify preferred locations of phage DNA during infection.

Main Methods:

  • Development and application of a novel in vivo technique to track phage DNA movement.
  • Analysis of phage DNA trajectories to characterize motion patterns (localized vs. whole-cell, subdiffusive).
  • Comparison of DNA motion in early and late phases of lytic and lysogenic cycles.

Main Results:

  • Phage DNA exhibits two distinct movement modes: localized and whole-cell spanning.
  • DNA motion is subdiffusive and depends on the ejection site within the host cell.
  • Early-phase DNA motion is independent of the lytic/lysogenic pathway choice.
  • Late-phase lytic cycle shows slowed DNA movement, while lysogenic cycle movement remains constant.
  • Phage DNA preferentially localizes to quarter positions within the cell.

Conclusions:

  • Phage DNA dynamics are complex and site-dependent within Escherichia coli.
  • Cell-fate determination (lytic/lysogenic) is not dictated by early phage DNA motion.
  • Distinct changes in DNA movement occur during the late stages of the lytic cycle.
  • Phage DNA exhibits spatial preference within the host cell throughout infection.