Bacteriophage

Definition

A virus that infects and replicates within bacteria, composed of a protein capsid enclosing a DNA or RNA genome. Bacteriophages inject their genetic material into host cells, hijacking bacterial machinery to produce new viral particles and often causing lysis of the host. They are ubiquitous in environments where bacteria occur, including the microbiomes of insects and other arthropods.

Etymology

From Greek phagein 'to devour' + bacteria

Example

Bacteriophages that infect Wolbachia or other bacterial endosymbionts of insects can indirectly influence host reproduction and fitness; phage therapy is also explored to target bacterial pathogens in honeybee colonies or to manipulate insect gut microbiomes for biocontrol purposes.

Synonyms

• phage

Related Terms

• virus
• bacteria
• endosymbiont
• Wolbachia
• phage therapy
• microbiome
• lysis

Usage Notes

The informal shorthand 'phage' is standard in scientific literature. Bacteriophages are not themselves arthropods or pathogens of arthropods, but they are ecologically significant in insect-associated microbial communities and are tools in molecular biology and pest management research. Contrast with eukaryotic viruses that infect insects directly.