Microbiology: Phage Life Cycle

The primary stages are attachment, penetration, replication, assembly, and lysis.

Bacteriophages can be used to treat bacterial infections, especially those resistant to antibiotics.

Phage therapy specifically targets bacteria and can reduce harmful bacteria without disrupting beneficial microbiota, unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics.

<p>Potential solutions include the use of phage therapy, developing new antimicrobials, and improved antibiotic stewardship practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phages were pioneered in the early 20th century as a treatment for bacterial infections before the widespread use of antibiotics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main steps are adsorption to the host cell, injection of DNA, synthesis of phage nucleic acids and proteins, assembly of phage particles, and release of phage particles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriophages are potent anti-bacterials with narrow specificity, making them effective against harmful bacteria without damaging normal flora.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phages can self-replicate and specifically target bacteria, whereas antibiotics often affect a broader range of organisms and can lead to resistance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Holin destabilizes the host cell membrane, while lysin breaks down the host cell wall, leading to cell lysis and the release of new phage particles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriophages have been used for decades in Eastern Europe and Russia as a treatment for bacterial infections, demonstrating their long-standing role in medicine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>There is a resurgence due to the increasing resistance to existing antibiotics, and phages offer a targeted and self-replicating alternative.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phages can selectively target pathogenic bacteria without harming beneficial bacteria, and they adapt to bacterial resistance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>One challenge is ensuring the narrow specificity of phages to target only harmful bacteria, while preventing unintended effects on beneficial microflora.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main life cycle stages of a bacteriophage are attachment, penetration, biosynthesis, maturation, and release.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriophages are used in treating bacterial infections, especially those resistant to antibiotics, and in food safety.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phage therapy involves using viruses that specifically target bacteria, whereas antibiotics act on a broader range of bacteria and may affect human cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Strategies include using bacteriophage therapy, developing new antibiotics, and employing combination therapies to enhance efficacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phages were first discovered in the early 20th century and were used in Eastern Europe for treating bacterial infections before the widespread use of antibiotics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Challenges include the potential immune response against phages and variable access to sites of infection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The immune response can neutralize phages upon repeated use, reducing treatment effectiveness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Public health measures can limit the spread of resistant bacteria through proper sanitation, vaccination, and responsible antibiotic usage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phages can be genetically engineered to enhance their ability to target specific bacterial strains and improve their therapeutic efficacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ethical considerations include informed consent, the potential for unforeseen side effects, and access to treatment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria and are used in medical applications to treat bacterial infections, particularly in phage therapy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriophages recognize and bind to specific receptors on bacterial cells, allowing them to inject their genetic material and replicate, while leaving human cells unharmed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phage therapy can circumvent antibiotic resistance because bacteriophages can evolve alongside bacteria, maintaining their effectiveness against them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main challenge is the host specificity of phages, which limits their effectiveness to certain strains of bacteria.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phages were first used in medicine in the early 20th century in the Soviet Union to treat bacterial infections when antibiotics were not yet discovered.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Current applications include treating antibiotic-resistant infections, particularly those caused by strains of Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interferon alpha enhances the immune response by inducing antiviral proteins that inhibit viral replication in infected cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Humanized antibodies boost the immune response against a wide range of infectious agents, enhancing the body's ability to fight infections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>These proteins inhibit viral production by degrading viral mRNA and interfering with viral replication processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interleukin-2 stimulates the growth and activity of T cells, enhancing the immune system's ability to target and eliminate viral infections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two distinct life cycles of bacteriophages are lytic and lysogenic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriophages can specifically target and kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, providing an alternative to traditional antibiotics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lytic bacteriophages can be weaponized against pathogenic bacteria by using them to infect and destroy harmful bacterial strains.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Maintaining high concentrations of antimicrobial drugs helps ensure that all sensitive cells are killed and others are inhibited, allowing the immune system to eliminate them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Combining antimicrobial agents can create a synergistic effect that enhances efficacy and reduces the likelihood of resistance development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Solutions include using specific antimicrobials only when necessary, developing new drug variations, and searching for new antibiotics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides that can target and kill bacteria, contributing to the development of new therapeutic options.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bacteriophage therapy has historical roots dating back to the early 20th century, particularly in Eastern Europe for treating bacterial infections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phage therapy specifically targets bacteria, while traditional antibiotics can affect a wide range of organisms, including beneficial ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The immune system works to destroy any remaining bacteria after antimicrobial drugs have cleared the majority of the infection.</p> Signup and view all the answers