Enterobacteria phage IKe, also known as Escherichia phage IKe, is a virus that infects enteric bacteria. The spelling of this word can be explained through its use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). "Enterobacteria" is pronounced [ˌɛntəroʊbækˈtɪəriə], with stress placed on the second syllable. "Phage" is pronounced [feɪdʒ]. "IKe" is pronounced as individual letters: [aɪ keɪ]. Understanding the phonetic transcription of this word can aid in pronunciation and recognition of the virus when spoken aloud.
Enterobacteria phage IKe is a bacteriophage that belongs to the family Podoviridae. It is a virus specifically infecting Enterobacteria, a diverse group of gram-negative bacteria. This phage has been extensively studied and has an icosahedral morphology with a double-stranded DNA genome.
Enterobacteria phage IKe has certain characteristics that allowed it to become a model organism for studying phage biology. It has a small genome size of approximately 44 kilobases and encodes for around 58 predicted genes. The phage is highly stable under various conditions, making it convenient for laboratory experiments. Additionally, it has a short infection cycle, allowing for rapid replication and assessment of its life cycle.
One of the remarkable features of Enterobacteria phage IKe is its lytic lifecycle, where it infects Enterobacteria host cells, replicates rapidly, and eventually causes host cell lysis, releasing progeny phages. This property has piqued the interest of researchers studying phage therapy, as it suggests its potential use in the control of Enterobacteria-related infections.
Overall, Enterobacteria phage IKe is a bacteriophage that infects Enterobacteria and exhibits characteristics that make it valuable for phage research. Its small genome, stability, and strong lytic activity have made it a popular model organism for studying various aspects of phage biology, from replication and gene expression to potential therapeutic applications.