View source for T4 phage

Phage T4 is a [[Bacteriophage|Bacteriophage]]&nbsp;which infects&nbsp;''[[Escherichia coli|Escherichia coli]]''. 

It is known as a Caudovirales under the [[Baltimore Classification|Baltimore Classification]] system of viruses meaning it is a tailed [[Bacteriophage|bacteriophage]] with double stranded [[DNA|DNA]]. It infects by the lytic lifecycle which means it hijacks cell machinery so host cell is killed. 

Infection starts by creating a hole in the lipopolysaccaride and peptodoglycan of the bacteria by injecting a lysozyme complex. After injection, the cells DNA is hydrolysed so the [[Escherichia coli|E.coli]] now contains the phage DNA but the T4 phage is using the cells machinery to produce [[Lysozyme|lysozyme]] which digests the cell wall causing it to burst open<ref>Michael Madigan, John Martinko, David Stahl, David Clark. (2012) Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Thirteenth Edition, San Francisco: Pearson. 267-268</ref>. 

The [[DsDNA|dsDNA]] is found in the isosachedral head of the phage which then leads onto a tail made of a helical sheath with&nbsp;tail fibres to help with the attachment and injection into the host cell<ref>Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymokzo, Lubert Stryer, (2007), Biochemistry, 6th edition, New York, W. H. Freeman and Company.</ref>. 

=== Reference  ===

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