Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and generally have three main components (head, tail, tail fibres).
A bacteriophage, or phage for short, is a virus that infects bacteria. Like other types of viruses, bacteriophages vary a lot in their shape and genetic material.
Typically, a common bacteriophage has three main components: the head which stores genetic material, the tail, which is a passageway for genetic material to be injected into host bacteria. The end contains tail fibres which help the bacteriophage attach to the host bacteria.
Practice Questions
Khan Academy
Virulence factors in outbreak-strain cholera
MCAT Official Prep (AAMC)
Key Points
• Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.
• A typical bacteriophage has three main components: head, tail, and tail fibres.
Key Terms
bacteriophage: viruses that infect bacteria
head: stores phages’ genetic material
tail: passageway for phages’ genetic material to be injected into bacteria
tail fibres: help phages attach to the host bacteria
