COLIPHAGE Meaning and
Definition
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Coliphage refers to a type of virus that infects coliform bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli (E. coli). The term is a combination of "coli," referring to E. coli, and "phage," short for bacteriophage, which means a virus that specifically targets bacteria. Coliphages are typically classified within the family Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, or Podoviridae, based on their morphology and genetic characteristics.
Coliphages display a complex life cycle, consisting of a lytic phase and, in some cases, a lysogenic phase. During the lytic phase, the coliphage injects its genetic material into a host E. coli bacterium, using the bacterium's cellular machinery to replicate and produce new viral particles. This results in the lysis, or breakdown, of the host bacterium, thereby releasing numerous progeny coliphages into the environment.
The presence and abundance of coliphages in an environment, such as water sources or food, are often used as indicators of fecal contamination, as they are found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Monitoring coliphages can be useful in assessing the safety and quality of food and water supplies, as their presence suggests potential fecal contamination and the possible presence of harmful pathogens.
Coliphages have also been extensively studied in molecular biology and genetics research. They are an important tool in bacteriophage therapy, where they can be harnessed to target and eliminate specific strains of pathogenic bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant ones, providing an alternative to traditional antibiotics.
Common Misspellings for COLIPHAGE
- xoliphage
- voliphage
- foliphage
- doliphage
- ciliphage
- ckliphage
- clliphage
- cpliphage
- c0liphage
- c9liphage
- cokiphage
- copiphage
- cooiphage
- coluphage
- coljphage
- colkphage
- colophage
- col9phage
- col8phage
- coliohage
Etymology of COLIPHAGE
The word "coliphage" is a combination of two parts: "coli" and "phage".
The first part, "coli", is derived from Escherichia coli, which is a bacterium commonly found in the lower intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Escherichia coli bacteria are often used in scientific research, particularly in microbiology and genetics, due to their ease of cultivation and their significance as a model organism.
The second part, "phage", is short for bacteriophage. A bacteriophage (or phage) is a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. The term "phage" is derived from the Greek word "phagein", meaning "to eat" or "to devour". Bacteriophages were named so because they were observed as "eaters" or "devourers" of bacteria.
Similar spelling words for COLIPHAGE
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