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Related Concept Videos

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

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...
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

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 lytic replication...
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

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...
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo
08:46

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo

Published on: January 26, 2024

Large-Scale Structural Dynamics in the Tail Fiber Modulate the Infective Transition of the T7 Bacteriophage.

Luca Elizabet Kosik1,2, Miklós Cervenak1, Dominik Sziklai1

  • 1Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.

Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophage T7 tail fibers use a molecular hinge and unwinding structure for dynamic movement, enabling efficient host surface exploration. This mechanism is key for phage infection and could be targeted for therapeutic applications.

Keywords:
HS‐AFMMD simulationSAXST7 bacteriophagehost‐cell recognitionsingle‐particle biophysicsvirus infection

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Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

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Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo
08:46

T4 Bacteriophage and E. coli Interaction in the Murine Intestine: A Prototypical Model for Studying Host-Bacteriophage Dynamics In Vivo

Published on: January 26, 2024

Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
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Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda

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Published on: September 28, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are being explored as treatments for multidrug-resistant infections.
  • The T7 bacteriophage uses tail fibers for host recognition and DNA injection.
  • Understanding tail fiber dynamics is crucial for comprehending phage-bacterium interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural dynamics and molecular movements of T7 bacteriophage tail fibers.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying host recognition and surface exploration by T7 phages.

Main Methods:

  • High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) for real-time imaging.
  • Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to model atomic movements.
  • Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to analyze structural properties.

Main Results:

  • Identified a 'kink region' in the tail fiber acting as a molecular hinge, enabling large-scale bending.
  • Observed partial unwinding and rewinding in the proximal triple-helical coiled-coil structure, allowing fiber rotation and twisting.
  • Demonstrated that these dynamic regions facilitate rapid fiber flexing and extension for host surface searching.

Conclusions:

  • T7 bacteriophage tail fibers possess unique dynamic regions enabling efficient exploration of host surfaces.
  • The identified mechanisms of fiber movement are essential for phage anchorage and infection.
  • Modulating these tail fiber dynamics offers potential strategies for controlling phage-bacterium interactions.