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Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

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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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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Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
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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

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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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Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

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Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
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The Many Applications of Engineered Bacteriophages-An Overview.

Bryan Gibb1, Paul Hyman2, Christine L Schneider3

  • 1Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Theobald Science Center, Room 423, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000, USA.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 2, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteriophages (or phages) are abundant viruses being engineered for novel applications beyond killing bacteria. Their genetic modification and structural flexibility enable diverse uses, especially in combating antibiotic-resistant infections through phage therapy.

Keywords:
bacteriophageengineered phageimaging agentpathogen detectionphage therapy

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Bacteriophages, discovered in 1915-1917, are the most abundant organisms globally.
  • They represent a vast reservoir of unexplored genetic information.
  • Rising antibiotic resistance has spurred renewed interest in phage therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diverse and innovative methods of modifying bacteriophages.
  • To explore applications of engineered phages beyond their natural antibacterial capabilities.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on bacteriophage modification and applications.
  • Analysis of genetic and chemical engineering techniques for phages.
  • Discussion of phage structural flexibility, cargo capacity, and propagation.

Main Results:

  • Phage modification tools enable diverse applications.
  • Engineered phages offer potential beyond innate bacterial targeting.
  • Phage therapy is a promising alternative to antibiotics.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophage engineering is expanding their therapeutic and biotechnological potential.
  • Modified phages present innovative solutions for infectious diseases.
  • Further research into phage modification will unlock novel applications.