temperate phage

Dormant bacterial virus

A temperate phage is a virus that infects bacteria but doesn't immediately destroy its host.

Unlike virulent phages that hijack the cell and multiply until it bursts, a temperate phage can integrate its genetic material into the bacterial chromosome and lie dormant, replicating quietly alongside the host's DNA.

This latent state is called lysogeny.

Under stress conditions, the phage may reactivate and resume its destructive cycle.

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dormant state · induction · viral · DNA · host · host cell · chromosome · excision · latent · repressor · genome · attachment · infection · bacterial · replication · quiescent · UV · stress

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temperate, phage, temper, temperance, intemperance, intemperate, temperately, temperature, temperatures

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