Bacteriophage
A bacteriophage or just phage is a virus that infects bacteria. The T4 phage is an example of a bacteriophage.
The head and tail of the bacteriophage ae constructed from proteins. The head contains the viral DNA and the tail is a hollow tube used to inject a host cell during infection, though not all phages have a tail. The head can icosahedral (20 sided) or filamentous, and the tail can be coated with a contratile sheath or in the case of the T phage have a base plate attached[1]
Bacteriophages are usefull vectors for transforming bacteria such as E. coli [2]
References
- ↑ http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mayer/phage.htm
- ↑ Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymokzo, Lubert Stryer, (2007), Biochemistry, 6th edition, New York, W. H. Freeman and Company.