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• 1. Adsorption
• 2. Penetration
• 3. Synthesis of phage components
• 4. Maturation and assembly
• 5. Release of progeny viruses
1.Adsorption
• The phage particles come into contact by random collision and a phage
attaches to a specific receptor site on the host cell membrane by means of tail
fibres.
• Adsorption occurs within minutes of contact.
2. Penetration
• After adsorption of phage to bacteria, the tail sheath of phage contracts and
the base plate and tail fibres are held firmly against the bacterial cell.
• As a result the hollow core is pushed downwards through the already
weakened part of cell-wall caused by a phage muramidase present on the base
plate.
• The viral nucleic acid passes down the hollow tube similar to injection
through a syringe. The tube does not penetrate the cell wall and the empty
head (capsid) and tail remain outside as shell or ghost.
3. Synthesis of phage components:
• After the release of nucleic acid into the bacterial cell, the viral genome
directs the biosynthetic machinery of host cell to shut down the normal
cellular metabolism and to produce components of new virus particles.
• This is effected by synthesis of specific enzymes (called early proteins)
necessary for synthesis of phage components.
• Subsequently, late protein, subunits of phage head and tail appear. Some of
the components appear in the nucleus and others in the cytoplasm of host
cell.
During the first 10 minutes after infection of the phage DNA, no phage could be
recovered from the infected bacterium. This time interval is called as eclipse period.
During the eclipse phase, no infectious phage particles can be found either inside or
outside the bacterial cell.
4. Maturation and Assembly: