Cell biology perspectives in phage biology

Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2012 Jan 1;4(5):1823-9. doi: 10.2741/503.

Abstract

Cellular biology has long been restricted to large cellular organisms. However, as the resolution of microscopic methods increased, it became possible to study smaller cells, in particular bacterial cells. Bacteriophage biology is one aspect of bacterial cell biology that has recently gained insight from cell biology. Despite their small size, bacteriophages could be successfully labeled and their cycle studied in the host cells. This review aims to put together, although non-extensively, several cell biology studies that recently pushed the elucidation of key mechanisms in phage biology, such as the lysis-lysogeny decision in temperate phages or genome replication and transcription, one step further.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophage lambda / genetics
  • Bacteriophage lambda / physiology*
  • Cell Biology*
  • Lysogeny
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Virus Replication