Bacteriophage
Edward Moto
, • Bacteriophages, also called phages, are viruses
that infect bacteria.
• They have the most complex capsids found
among viruses
• Phages have an elongated capsid head that
encloses their DNA
• A protein tail piece attaches the phage to the host
and injects the phage DNA inside.
• Replicates only within the body of bacteria.
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
, Bacteriophages…
• These are found throughout the world in different
environments.
• Bacteriophages that infect bacteria can also infect the
members of the domain Archaea.
• Bacteriophages are diverse in their shape size and gen
organization depending on the type of bacteria they inf
but the basic composition remains the same.
• All bacteriophages consist of a nucleic acid genome wh
is enclosed inside a shell of phage-encoded capsid prot
• The head structure of different phages might differ, the
sizes of phages range between 24-200 nm in length.
Edward Moto
, • Bacteriophages, also called phages, are viruses
that infect bacteria.
• They have the most complex capsids found
among viruses
• Phages have an elongated capsid head that
encloses their DNA
• A protein tail piece attaches the phage to the host
and injects the phage DNA inside.
• Replicates only within the body of bacteria.
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
, Bacteriophages…
• These are found throughout the world in different
environments.
• Bacteriophages that infect bacteria can also infect the
members of the domain Archaea.
• Bacteriophages are diverse in their shape size and gen
organization depending on the type of bacteria they inf
but the basic composition remains the same.
• All bacteriophages consist of a nucleic acid genome wh
is enclosed inside a shell of phage-encoded capsid prot
• The head structure of different phages might differ, the
sizes of phages range between 24-200 nm in length.
