Coliphage (Noun)
Meaning
A bacteriophage that infects the bacterium Escherichia coli.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The lambda coliphage is a well-studied lytic bacteriophage of Escherichia coli and a model organism for studying viral structure and genetics.
- Coliphage was accidentally discovered in 1915 by British scientist Frederick Twort who saw its effects on a culture of E coli.
- Research has led to the development of specific methods for extracting and culturing particular strains of coliphage.
- A coliphage genome often consists of double-stranded DNA from 20 to 70 kilobase pairs and is contained within a protein coat.
- Isolation of coliphage has proven to be essential in further understanding the lytic and lysogenic cycles of viruses.