Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy01:20

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

585
Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...
585
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

721
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
721
Taxonomy01:31

Taxonomy

90.3K
Taxonomy is the science of defining and naming groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. It uses a hierarchy of increasingly inclusive categories with Latin names. The smallest units of taxonomy, species and genus, are used to assign a formal, taxonomic name to each species in a system. This classification system, referred to as binomial nomenclature, was formalized by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century.
Hierarchy of Taxonomy
The hierarchy that Carolus Linnaeus first...
90.3K
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

68.1K
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...
68.1K
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

78.3K
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...
78.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Frequency of morphological phage descriptions in the year 2000. Brief review.

Archives of virology·2001
Same author

Localization of surface immunogenic protein on group B streptococcus.

Infection and immunity·2001
Same author

Phylogeny of the major head and tail genes of the wide-ranging T4-type bacteriophages.

Journal of bacteriology·2000
Same author

Tailed bacteriophages: the order caudovirales.

Advances in virus research·1999
Same author

Taxonomy of bacterial viruses: establishment of tailed virus genera and the order Caudovirales.

Archives of virology·1998
Same author

Taxonomic changes in tailed phages of enterobacteria.

Archives of virology·1997

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides
07:19

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

Published on: June 28, 2024

1.5K

Bacteriophage taxonomy in 1987.

H W Ackermann1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, PQ, Canada.

Microbiological Sciences
|July 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has approved ten families and eight genera of viruses, comprising over 230 species. A novel phage group discovered in Archaebacteria offers insights into viral origins.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
08:46

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.6K
Quantitative PCR of T7 Bacteriophage from Biopanning
05:42

Quantitative PCR of T7 Bacteriophage from Biopanning

Published on: September 27, 2018

11.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides
07:19

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

Published on: June 28, 2024

1.5K
Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
08:46

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.6K
Quantitative PCR of T7 Bacteriophage from Biopanning
05:42

Quantitative PCR of T7 Bacteriophage from Biopanning

Published on: September 27, 2018

11.6K

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Microbiology
  • Archaebacterial research

Background:

  • The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has established a classification system for viruses.
  • Viruses, particularly bacteriophages (phages), play crucial roles in microbial ecosystems.
  • Understanding viral diversity and taxonomy is essential for comprehending evolutionary processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the current state of viral taxonomy as approved by the ICTV.
  • To report the discovery of a new phage group within Archaebacteria.
  • To analyze the distribution of different phage morphologies and their implications for viral origins.

Main Methods:

  • Review of ICTV-approved viral families, genera, and species.
  • Identification and characterization of a new phage group infecting Archaebacteria.
  • Analysis of morphological classifications (tailed, cubic, filamentous, pleomorphic) of over 2700 phages.

Main Results:

  • Ten viral families and eight genera, encompassing at least 230 species, have been approved by the ICTV.
  • A new basic phage group has been identified in Archaebacteria.
  • The vast majority of characterized phages (over 2700) are tailed, with approximately 130 exhibiting cubic, filamentous, or pleomorphic structures.

Conclusions:

  • The current ICTV classification provides a framework for understanding viral diversity.
  • The discovery of new phage groups in Archaebacteria expands our knowledge of viral evolution.
  • The distribution patterns of phage morphologies offer valuable clues regarding the origins and evolution of viruses.