Bacteriophages

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Bacteriophage overview

Phages are viruses that prey on bacteria for reproduction, which typically results in the lysing of the bacterial host cell.
Mirzaei & Maurice 2017 Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 15: 397-408
Ofir & Sorek 2018 Cell 172: 1260

Bacteriophages are the most common biological entities on Earth. They play important roles in influencing microbial communities. Most phages either destroy bacteria (lytic) or become part of the bacteria's DNA (prophages), creating a bacterial lysogen. Studies of certain integrated phages, like λ and Mu, have helped us understand lysogens and have been key to…