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Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides

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Genetically modified bacteriophages in applied microbiology.

P Bárdy¹, R Pantůček¹, M Benešík¹

¹Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.

Journal of Applied Microbiology

|June 21, 2016

Summary

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. Engineered phages offer novel therapeutic and biotechnological applications, including antibiotic alternatives and pathogen detection tools.

Keywords:

bacteriophages biopharmaceuticals biotechnology enzybiotics genetically modified bacteriophages pathogen detection phage therapy

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Virology
Biotechnology

Background:

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria, presenting a simple model for basic research.
Their potential for treating bacterial infections has been explored since their discovery.
Advances in molecular biology and gene engineering have broadened phage applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the expanded applications of bacteriophages in medicine and biotechnology.
To highlight the engineering of phages for enhanced therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities.
To discuss the potential of phages as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

Main Methods:

Engineering bacteriophages for extended host range and improved bloodstream viability.
Insertion of active depolymerase genes for biofilm removal.
Modification of phages for compound delivery (vaccines, drugs, genes).
Utilizing phage recombinant lytic enzymes (enzybiotics).
Developing phage-based biosorbents and bioprobes for pathogen detection.

Main Results:

Engineered phages show potential as alternatives to antibiotics.
Phages can be modified for biofilm disposal and targeted compound delivery.
Phage-derived enzybiotics have applications in medicine and biotechnology.
Modified phages serve as specific bioprobes for pathogen detection and control.

Conclusions:

Bacteriophages are versatile tools with significant potential in various fields.
Genetic engineering enhances phage capabilities for therapeutic and biotechnological uses.
Phages represent a promising avenue for combating bacterial infections and improving diagnostics.