Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that exclusively infect bacteria, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and driving bacterial evolution. They exhibit diverse morphologies and are classified based on their structure, such as the tailed phages. Phage therapy, using phages to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, is gaining interest as an alternative to traditional antibiotics. Challenges include specificity, regulatory hurdles, and potential immune system targeting. Electron microscopy has been pivotal in understanding phage structures and interactions.
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Bacteriophages are specialized viruses that prey on bacteria and are the most numerous life forms on Earth
Bacteriophages play a critical role in controlling bacterial populations and are a driving force in bacterial evolution
Bacteriophages come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are classified based on their morphology, with tailed phages being the most common
The capsid of a bacteriophage is a protective protein shell that houses the viral genetic material and aids in its packaging and release
The tail and tail fibers of a bacteriophage are specialized structures that help the virus attach to and inject genetic material into host cells
Bacteriophages are classified into various types based on their morphology, with tailed phages of the order Caudovirales being the most common
Phage therapy is a promising field that investigates the use of bacteriophages as a substitute for antibiotics in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Phage therapy can utilize the lytic cycle, where phages replicate within and destroy host bacteria, or the lysogenic cycle, where phage DNA integrates into the host's genome
Phage therapy offers benefits such as specificity to pathogenic bacteria and the potential to co-evolve with bacterial hosts, but faces challenges such as accurate identification of bacterial strains and regulatory hurdles
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______, commonly known as phages, are viruses that target only ______.
Bacteriophages
bacteria
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Bacteriophage composition
Protein shell encases DNA or RNA.
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Most common bacteriophage type
Tailed phages of order Caudovirales.
