Study how bacteriophages replicate by injecting nucleic acid into a bacteria cell to create virions
The cycle of infection results in the death of the host cell and the release of many virus particles, called virions.
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Transcript
[Music in]
NARRATOR: In a way, a virus is a parasite. It attacks a host cell and takes over its chemical machinery for making proteins and nucleic acids.
One of the better understood virus life cycles is phage, a virus which attacks bacteria cells.
The phage begins its assault by attaching itself to the cell wall of the bacteria. This attachment is very specific, and each type of phage can only attach to a certain type of bacteria.
Next, the phage breaks down the cell wall, and the nucleic acid from this capsule is injected through the hollow tail into the cell.
The viral nucleic acid uses the cell's enzymes and organelles to replicate new viral parts.
The parts are assembled into new virus particles called virions.
Finally, the new phages release an enzyme, which weakens the cell wall, and the host cell bursts, releasing the virions.
Up to 300 new virus particles can be reproduced in a single host cell.
This process of viral multiplication is called the lytic cycle.
Interestingly, the lytic cycle does not always happen immediately.
Sometimes, rather than producing virions, phage nucleic acid incorporates in the host cell DNA.
Now, each time the cell divides, the phage DNA is also reproduced and is spread to more and more cells.
Then suddenly, for reasons that are still unclear, the phage DNA activates, and the destructive lytic cycle begins.
Once again, the host cell is destroyed and a new generation of phage are released to invade new hosts.
[Music out]
NARRATOR: In a way, a virus is a parasite. It attacks a host cell and takes over its chemical machinery for making proteins and nucleic acids.
One of the better understood virus life cycles is phage, a virus which attacks bacteria cells.
The phage begins its assault by attaching itself to the cell wall of the bacteria. This attachment is very specific, and each type of phage can only attach to a certain type of bacteria.
Next, the phage breaks down the cell wall, and the nucleic acid from this capsule is injected through the hollow tail into the cell.
The viral nucleic acid uses the cell's enzymes and organelles to replicate new viral parts.
The parts are assembled into new virus particles called virions.
Finally, the new phages release an enzyme, which weakens the cell wall, and the host cell bursts, releasing the virions.
Up to 300 new virus particles can be reproduced in a single host cell.
This process of viral multiplication is called the lytic cycle.
Interestingly, the lytic cycle does not always happen immediately.
Sometimes, rather than producing virions, phage nucleic acid incorporates in the host cell DNA.
Now, each time the cell divides, the phage DNA is also reproduced and is spread to more and more cells.
Then suddenly, for reasons that are still unclear, the phage DNA activates, and the destructive lytic cycle begins.
Once again, the host cell is destroyed and a new generation of phage are released to invade new hosts.
[Music out]
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