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

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

4.7K
Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
4.7K
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

63.8K
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...
63.8K
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

187
The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
187
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

208
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...
208
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

359
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...
359
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

72.7K
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...
72.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Dissecting genotype-specific effects of disease-associated genetic variants.

iScience·2026
Same author

Variant-to-function dissection of the 17q21.31 locus resolves ANKRD1 as a convergent regulatory target.

BMC medical genomics·2026
Same author

Impact of phage therapy in post-weaning piglets challenged with ETEC strain in a controlled minitrial.

Porcine health management·2026
Same author

Awareness and acceptability of gut microbiome transfer.

Frontiers in gastroenterology (Lausanne, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants modulates the metabolism and gut microbiota of the offspring.

Environment international·2026
Same author

Phosphorothioate DNA modification by BREX type 4 systems in the human gut microbiome.

Nature communications·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 6, 2025

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

1.9K

Phages in the Gut Ecosystem.

Michele Zuppi1, Heather L Hendrickson2, Justin M O'Sullivan1,3,4

  • 1The Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|January 21, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophages (phages), abundant viruses, significantly impact the human gut microbiome by preying on bacteria or transferring genes. Further research is needed to fully understand their role in gut ecosystem dynamics and health.

Keywords:
bacteriophagegut microbiomemetagenomicsmicrobial ecologyprophage

More Related Videos

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

12.3K
Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

2.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 6, 2025

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

1.9K
Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

12.3K
Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

2.1K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Human Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, infecting bacteria specifically.
  • Phages are prevalent in the human gut microbiome and are increasingly recognized for their modulatory potential.
  • Phage influence is linked to gastrointestinal diseases and Fecal Microbiota Transplant efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for phage modulation of the gut microbiome.
  • To postulate phages as pivotal contributors to gut ecosystem dynamics.
  • To propose research questions for further elucidation of phage roles in the human ecosystem and health.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on phage-gut microbiome interactions.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms of phage influence: bacterial predation and horizontal gene transfer.
  • Discussion of phage-host immune system interactions.

Main Results:

  • Phages modulate the gut microbiome through bacterial predation and gene transfer, affecting bacterial fitness.
  • Phages interact with the human immune system, with varied outcomes.
  • The full extent of phage influence on gut ecosystem structure remains incompletely understood.

Conclusions:

  • Phages are critical players in gut ecosystem dynamics.
  • Further research is essential to fully understand the multifaceted roles of phages in the human gut.
  • Elucidating phage functions can provide insights into human health and well-being.