Bacteriophages & Lytic cycle
Introduction
Bacteriophages short for phages are everywhere. They probably are in your local sewage system to on top of your eyelids right now. These bacteriophages are like guided missiles that hunt down certain specific bacterium. One of the two cycles that phages use to hunt down bacteria is the lytic cycle.
Lytic Cycle
The lytic cycle consists mainly of 5 steps; Attachment, Entry, DNA copying and protein synthesis, Assembly of new phage, and Lysis.
Attachment:
The phage finds its prey, and its tail fibers with receptors bind with its victim.
Entry:
It uses those tail fibers then as a syringe to create a hole, injecting its double-stranded DNA genome into the cytoplasm with a weird motion.
DNA copying and protein synthesis:
Phage DNA is copied, which instructs the bacterium to synthesize proteins such as the capsid protein.
Assembly of new phage:
The assembled capsids made from the capsid protein, are now packed with DNA ready to create new phage particles.
Lysis:
Lastly, the phage now then produce endolysin (a strong enzyme that punctures the plasma membrane and the cell wall of the bacterium). Due to the water filling in from the holes, the pressure builds up within the bacterium, and “vomits out” its insides and dies.
In this stage, the phages are now released and begin the cycle.
Resources used in this article
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI3tsmFsrOg&t=245s&ab_channel=Kurzgesagt%E2%80%93InaNutshell
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/bacteriophage-virus-monochromatic-4989205/
