| filamentous bacteriophage | <molecular biology> A type of single-stranded DNA bacteriophage (virus which infects bacteria) that has a capsid which is long and thin, like a filament. Examples include the viruses F1 and M13. (10 Mar 1998) |
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| lambda bacteriophage | <virology> Bacterial DNA virus, first isolated from E. Coli. Its structure is similar to that of the T even phages. Lambda genetic material consists of a double-stranded DNA molecule with 5' twelve-base-pair sticky ends, known as cos sites, which permit circularisation of the DNA molecule. It shows a lytic cycle and a lysogenic cycle and studies on the control of these alternative cycles have been very important for our understanding of the regulation of gene transcription. It is used as a cloning vector, accommodating fragments of DNA up to 15 kilobase pairs long. For larger pieces, the cosmid vector was constructed from its ends. (14 Mar 2000) |
| lysosogenic bacteriophage | <virology> Bacteriophage that can take part in a lysogenic or lytic cycle in its bacterial host. See: lysogeny. (15 Oct 1997) |