a virus that infects bacteria
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. They are also known as phages. Bacteriophages consist of a protein coat that encapsulates their genetic material, either DNA or RNA. They are highly specific, targeting and infecting specific types of bacteria.
When a bacteriophage encounters a susceptible bacterium, it attaches to the bacterial cell wall and injects its genetic material into the cell. The phage takes control of the host's cellular machinery, replicates its own genetic material, and produces multiple copies of phage particles. Eventually, the bacterial cell bursts, releasing new phages that can infect more bacteria.
Bacteriophages play a significant role in the regulation of bacterial populations in nature. They are found everywhere bacteria exist, such as in soil, water, and the human body. Bacteriophage therapy, using phages to treat bacterial infections, is an area of growing interest in medical research as an alternative or complementary approach to antibiotics.