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Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?
- a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.
- b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.
- c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.
- d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medic...
Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate inside bacteria. They are widely utilized in medical biotechnology due to their unique properties and applications. Let's understand why option 'C' is the correct answer by discussing the characteristics and uses of bacteriophages.
1. Characteristics of Bacteriophages:
- Structure: Bacteriophages have a protein coat that encapsulates their genetic material, which can be either DNA or RNA.
- Specificity: Each type of bacteriophage is specific to infecting certain types of bacteria, as they recognize and bind to specific receptors on the bacterial surface.
- Replication: Once attached to the bacterial cell, the bacteriophage injects its genetic material into the host bacterium. Inside the host, the viral genetic material takes over the bacterial cellular machinery, leading to the production of viral components and the assembly of new phage particles.
- Lysis: After replication, the newly formed phage particles are released by causing the lysis or destruction of the host bacterial cell.
2. Applications of Bacteriophages in Medical Biotechnology:
- Antibacterial Agents: Bacteriophages can be used as natural antibacterial agents to target and kill specific pathogenic bacteria. They offer a potential alternative to antibiotics, especially in cases of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Phage Therapy: Phage therapy involves the use of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. Phages can be specifically selected or engineered to target and kill pathogenic bacteria, providing a personalized and precise treatment option.
- Diagnostic Tools: Bacteriophages can be utilized in diagnostic tests to identify and differentiate bacterial strains. Phage-based assays can detect the presence of specific bacteria by their ability to support phage replication.
- Food Safety: Bacteriophages can be employed to control bacterial contamination in food products. Phages can selectively target and eliminate harmful bacteria, enhancing food safety and reducing the need for chemical interventions.
- Biofilm Disruption: Bacteriophages have the potential to disrupt bacterial biofilms, which are complex communities of bacteria that can cause chronic infections. Phages can penetrate biofilms and target the bacteria within, aiding in the treatment of biofilm-associated infections.
In conclusion, bacteriophages are viruses that parasitize bacteria by infecting and reproducing inside them. They have numerous applications in medical biotechnology, including their use as antibacterial agents, phage therapy for bacterial infections, diagnostic tools, food safety measures, and biofilm disruption.
1. Characteristics of Bacteriophages:
- Structure: Bacteriophages have a protein coat that encapsulates their genetic material, which can be either DNA or RNA.
- Specificity: Each type of bacteriophage is specific to infecting certain types of bacteria, as they recognize and bind to specific receptors on the bacterial surface.
- Replication: Once attached to the bacterial cell, the bacteriophage injects its genetic material into the host bacterium. Inside the host, the viral genetic material takes over the bacterial cellular machinery, leading to the production of viral components and the assembly of new phage particles.
- Lysis: After replication, the newly formed phage particles are released by causing the lysis or destruction of the host bacterial cell.
2. Applications of Bacteriophages in Medical Biotechnology:
- Antibacterial Agents: Bacteriophages can be used as natural antibacterial agents to target and kill specific pathogenic bacteria. They offer a potential alternative to antibiotics, especially in cases of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Phage Therapy: Phage therapy involves the use of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. Phages can be specifically selected or engineered to target and kill pathogenic bacteria, providing a personalized and precise treatment option.
- Diagnostic Tools: Bacteriophages can be utilized in diagnostic tests to identify and differentiate bacterial strains. Phage-based assays can detect the presence of specific bacteria by their ability to support phage replication.
- Food Safety: Bacteriophages can be employed to control bacterial contamination in food products. Phages can selectively target and eliminate harmful bacteria, enhancing food safety and reducing the need for chemical interventions.
- Biofilm Disruption: Bacteriophages have the potential to disrupt bacterial biofilms, which are complex communities of bacteria that can cause chronic infections. Phages can penetrate biofilms and target the bacteria within, aiding in the treatment of biofilm-associated infections.
In conclusion, bacteriophages are viruses that parasitize bacteria by infecting and reproducing inside them. They have numerous applications in medical biotechnology, including their use as antibacterial agents, phage therapy for bacterial infections, diagnostic tools, food safety measures, and biofilm disruption.
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Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medic...
- A bacteriophage is a type of virus that infects bacteria. The word "bacteriophage" literally means "bacteria eater," because bacteriophages destroy their host cells. All bacteriophages are composed of a nucleic acid molecule that is surrounded by a protein structure. A bacteriophage attaches itself to a susceptible bacterium and infects the host cell. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.
- Following infection, the bacteriophage hijacks the bacterium's cellular machinery to prevent it from producing bacterial components and instead forces the cell to produce viral components. Eventually, new bacteriophages assemble and burst out of the bacterium in a process called lysis. Bacteriophages occasionally remove a portion of their host cells' bacterial DNA during the infection process and then transfer this DNA into the genome of new host cells. This process is known as transduction.
- Since their discovery, bacteriophages have been considered to be potential antibacterial therapeutics for the treatment of various infectious diseases in humans. In recent times, the rapid rise of multi-drug resistant bacteria worldwide has led to a renewed interest in phage therapy as a possible alternative to antibiotics or, at least, a supplementary approach for the treatment of some bacterial infections.
- Furthermore, bacteriophage-based vaccination is emerging as one of the most promising preventive strategies.
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Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
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ample number of questions to practice Bacteriophages have been found to have numerous applications in medical biotechnology. What are they?a)They are heterotrophic microorganisms which obtain nutrients from the consumption of bacteria.b)They are synthetic species of bacterium which infects virus leading to the death of the virus.c)They are viruses which parasitize a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.d)They are bacteria which infect other bacteria and form a symbiotic relationship to survive.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
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