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Explore the fascinating World of Bacteriophages
Dive into the how they work, their effects and their future legacy in fighting antibiotic resistance!
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Life cycle of a bacteriophage
Attachment
During this initial stage, the bacteriophage recognizes and binds to specific receptor sites on the surface of a susceptible bacterial cell. This interaction is highly specific, as the phage's attachment proteins, or tail fibers, interact with the bacterial receptors. Successful attachment is crucial, as it determines the phage's ability to infect the host and initiate the subsequent steps of the life cycle.
Lysis
Release;
The final stage of the life cycle involves the lysis of the host bacterial cell. As the new phage particles accumulate, they often produce enzymes that degrade the bacterial cell wall, leading to cell lysis. This rupture releases the newly formed virions into the surrounding environment, allowing them to seek out and infect additional bacterial cells. This process can rapidly lead to the proliferation of phages in the vicinity, contributing to their role in regulating bacterial populations.
Penetration
Injection;
Once attachment occurs, the bacteriophage initiates penetration by injecting its genetic material (either DNA or RNA) into the host cell. This process often involves the contraction of the phage's tail structure, which creates a channel through the bacterial cell wall and membrane. The protein coat of the phage typically remains outside, while the nucleic acid is delivered directly into the cytoplasm of the bacterium, where it can begin to take control of the host's cellular machinery.
Maturation
Assembly;
After biosynthesis, the newly synthesized phage components are assembled into complete virions. This process involves the packaging of the replicated nucleic acids into capsids, the formation of tail structures, and the final assembly of the phage particles. This stage is a highly organized and efficient process, resulting in the formation of numerous mature phage particles that are ready for release.
Biosynthesis
Production of parts.
In this stage, the host's cellular machinery is commandeered to synthesize the phage's genetic material and structural proteins. The bacterial ribosomes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways are redirected to produce multiple copies of the phage's nucleic acids and the proteins needed for new phage particles. This phase is crucial for the replication of the phage, as it relies entirely on the host's resources to generate the necessary components for the new virions.
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