bacteriophage

/bæk'tiəriəfeidʤ/

Thân thiện

A scientist observes a bacteriophage under an electron microscope.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A virus that infects and replicates within bacteria, using the bacterial cell's machinery to produce more viruses, ultimately destroying the bacterial host.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • Scientists are studying a specific bacteriophage that targets E. coli.
  • The discovery of the bacteriophage provided a new tool for microbiology.
  • Bacteriophage therapy is being researched as an alternative to antibiotics.

Advanced Usage

• "Bacteriophage typing": A laboratory technique for identifying bacterial strains based on their susceptibility to specific bacteriophages.
  • The hospital lab used bacteriophage typing to track the source of the infection.

Variants and Related Words

• Phage (n): A common short form for "bacteriophage."
  • The term phage is often used in scientific literature.

Synonyms

• Phage: (Shortened form, identical in meaning in scientific contexts.)

Related Terms and Concepts

• Lytic cycle: The process by which a bacteriophage replicates and causes the lysis (bursting) of the bacterial host cell.
• Lysogenic cycle: A process where the bacteriophage's genetic material integrates into the bacterial genome and replicates with it without immediately destroying the cell.
• Virology: The scientific study of viruses, including bacteriophages.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a virus that is parasitic (reproduces itself) in bacteria
   • phage uses the bacterium's machinery and energy to produce more phage until the bacterium is destroyed and phage is released to invade surrounding bacteria

Từ đồng nghĩa

• phage