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Related Concept Videos

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...
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
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...
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...
Bacteriophages of the Human Virome01:23

Bacteriophages of the Human Virome

Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...

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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Precise Phage Mutagenesis with NgTET-Assisted CRISPR-Cas Systems
10:52

Precise Phage Mutagenesis with NgTET-Assisted CRISPR-Cas Systems

Published on: October 14, 2025

Towards modeling phage therapy.

Rob J de Boer1,2, Robert Schooley3, Alan S Perelson2,4

  • 1Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Plos Computational Biology
|June 22, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phage therapy for multi-drug resistant bacteria requires careful cocktail composition. Early, diverse phage application is crucial to prevent bacterial resistance and ensure treatment success.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Computational Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Bacteriophage therapy is used for multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections.
  • Selecting effective phage cocktails is complex due to bacterial resistance evolution.
  • Understanding treatment success factors in phage therapy is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a mathematical model for optimizing phage therapy in humans.
  • To identify key factors influencing the success of phage cocktails against MDR bacteria.
  • To provide insights into managing bacterial resistance during phage treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Extended an existing mouse model into a novel mathematical model for human phage therapy.
  • Incorporated multiple phages and bacterial strains with varying resistance profiles.
  • Adjusted model parameters for the human context and analyzed a successful case study.

Main Results:

  • Treatment success is highly dependent on initial bacterial resistance levels and cocktail timing/diversity.
  • Rapid expansion of resistant strains occurs as sensitive strains decline.
  • High phage infectivity accelerates the emergence of resistant strains.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing phage cocktail composition and timing is essential for effective phage therapy.
  • Early and diverse phage administration ('hit hard and early') is recommended to overcome resistance.
  • A high genetic barrier to resistance is best achieved by starting with a diverse phage set.