Ivan Erill, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Phages, or viruses that infect bacteria, can lie dormant within chromosomes until they’re triggered to replicate and burst out of their hosts.
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and play a potential role in the evolution of life.
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Ivan Erill, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Viruses have gotten a bad rap for the many illnesses and pandemics they’ve caused. But viruses are also genetic innovators – and possibly the pioneers of using DNA as the genetic blueprint of life.
Bacteriophages infecting a bacterial cell.
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While some viruses make us sick, others can fight against bacteria, or protect us from more harmful viruses.
They might look like an alien species, but these bacteria-eating viruses could be the next big thing in the fight against infectious diseases.
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