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bacteriophage
(bak-tēr´e-o-fāj″)
a virus that destroys bacteria by lysis; several varieties exist, and usually each attacks only one kind of bacteria. Often they
attach themselves to the cell membrane of the bacterium and instill a charge of DNA into the cytoplasm; the DNA carries the
genetic code of the virus and causes rapid multiplication of the parasitelike virus inside the bacterium; eventually there
is so much volume of virus that the bacterial cell bursts and releases many more viruses capable of destroying similar bacteria.
Called also bacterial virus. adj., bacteriopha´gic., adj.
temperate bacteriophage
one whose genetic material (prophage) becomes an intimate part of the bacterial genome, persisting and being reproduced through many cell division cycles; the affected bacterial cell is known as a lysogenic bacterium.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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