Bacteria Bacteriophage Bacteriophage is a virus that infects

Bacteria Bacteriophage

Bacteriophage -is a virus that infects bacteria. These are obligate intracellular parasites that multiply inside bacteria by making use of some or

Types of Bacteriophages *Bacteriophages of Lysogenic *Bacteriophagescapable that replicate life cycle are termed TEMPERATE through Lytic life cycle are called PHAGES. When a temperate infects LYTIC BACTERIOPHAGES and soa bacterium, it can either replicate by named because they lyse the host means of theaslytic cycle or cause lysis bacterium a normal part of their of the life host bacterium, or it can incorporate its DNA into the bacterium’s cycle. DNA and become noninfectious

Parts of Bacteriophages • Head/Capsid • Tail *Collar *Sheath *Base Plate Contractile Sheath Head/Capsid Tail Fibers Base Plate

Head/Capsid is composed of many copies of one or more different proteins. It is where the nucleic acid found and it act as the protective covering for the nucleic acid. Tail is a hollow tube through w/c the nucleic acid passes during infection. * Collar collar attached the whiskers. The fibers are kept folded around the tail , their midpoint being held by whiskers. * Sheath it is an inner core on the tube w/c contracts during the infection of the bacterium. * Base Plate/Tail fiber involved in the binding of the phage to the bacterial cell.

LYTIC CYCLE * The life cycle of Lytic bacteriophages in which new viruses are produced within the infected bacterium. The viruses usually lyse the infected

Lysogenic Cycle • Where the newly integrated genetic material called prophage can be transmitted into daughter cells at subsequent cell division and a later event can release it, causing

The following are the steps of the Lysogenic cycle: 1. Viral Genome enters cell 2. Viral genome integrates into host cell genome 3. Host cell DNA polymerase copies viral chromosomes 4. Cell divides, and virus chromosomes are transmitted to cell’s daughter cells 5. At any moment when the virus is “triggered”, the viral genome detaches from the host cell’s DNA and enters stage 2 of lytic cycle.

Advantages * Phages are very specific, so they will not harm beneficial bacteria in the body. * Once the bacteria is destroyed phage action ceases as they no longer have a host and so will disperse harmlessly. * Phage therapy could be useful for people who are allergic to antibiotics.

Disadvantages * There is huge diversity of phages, a potential problem if the bacteria to be treated is unknown. * Some phages are quickly excreted from the bloodstream, having been recognized by immune system.

tenkyuu…