STAPHYLOCOCCAL PHAGE Meaning and
Definition
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Staphylococcal phage, also known as staphylococcal bacteriophage, is a type of bacteriophage that specifically infects and targets bacteria of the Staphylococcus genus. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, and they have the capacity to replicate inside the bacterial cells, leading to their destruction.
Staphylococcal phages are abundant in various environments, such as sewage, soil, and water, where Staphylococcus bacteria are commonly found. They have an elongated or polyhedral capsid with a double-stranded DNA genome enclosed within. These phages possess unique proteins on their surface that allow them to specifically attach to the receptors present on the surface of Staphylococcus bacteria.
Upon attaching to their target bacteria, staphylococcal phages inject their genetic material into the bacterial cell. Once inside, the phage genome takes over the cellular machinery, forcing the bacteria to produce more phage particles. This eventually leads to the lysis or bursting of the bacterial cell, releasing numerous progeny phages that can further infect other Staphylococcus bacteria in the surrounding environment.
Staphylococcal phages have been extensively studied and have shown potential applications in medical and industrial fields. In medicine, they can be utilized as phage therapy to combat Staphylococcus infections, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains. In the industrial sector, these phages can be employed in the prevention of bacterial contamination in various products, such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Overall, staphylococcal phages play a crucial role in regulating Staphylococcus populations and have significant potential for various practical applications.
Common Misspellings for STAPHYLOCOCCAL PHAGE
- ataphylococcal phage
- ztaphylococcal phage
- xtaphylococcal phage
- dtaphylococcal phage
- etaphylococcal phage
- wtaphylococcal phage
- sraphylococcal phage
- sfaphylococcal phage
- sgaphylococcal phage
- syaphylococcal phage
- s6aphylococcal phage
- s5aphylococcal phage
- stzphylococcal phage
- stsphylococcal phage
- stwphylococcal phage
- stqphylococcal phage
- staohylococcal phage
- stalhylococcal phage
- sta-hylococcal phage
- sta0hylococcal phage
Etymology of STAPHYLOCOCCAL PHAGE
The word "staphylococcal" is derived from two Greek words: "staphylē" meaning bunch of grapes, and "kokkos" meaning berry. This term refers to the characteristic appearance of staphylococcal bacteria when viewed under a microscope, which resembles a cluster of grapes or berries.
The word "phage" comes from the Greek word "phagos", which means to eat or devour. In the context of microbiology, "phage" is short for bacteriophage, which are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria.
Therefore, the term "staphylococcal phage" refers to a bacteriophage that specifically targets and infects staphylococcal bacteria.
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