Bacteriophage
A bacteriophage (bacteriophage; Greek bacteria - bacteria + phagos - devouring) is a virus that infects a bacterial cell, multiplies in it and often leads to its lysis or transition to a lysogenic state. Typically, a phage includes a head, which has one double-stranded DNA molecule, a tail and tail fibrils, with protein molecules in them. The tail and tail fibrils are necessary for the attachment of the bacteriophage to the surface of the bacterium and the introduction of its DNA inside it. The phage DNA replicates and encodes the synthesis of proteins in its shell, which promotes its reproduction in the bacterial cell and ultimately leads to cell lysis, the phages are released and infect other cells. The action of each phage is selectively directed only against certain types of bacteria. This is used in the classification of phages (phage typing) - this method is used to identify a bacterium by the action of known phages on it.
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