bacteriophage

American  

[bak-teer-ee-uh-feyj] / bækˈtɪər i əˌfeɪdʒ /

noun

1. any of a group of viruses that infect specific bacteria, usually causing their disintegration or dissolution.

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bacteriophage British  

/ bækˌtɪərɪˈɒfəɡəs, bækˈtɪərɪəˌfeɪdʒ, bækˌtɪərɪəˈfædʒɪk /

noun

1. Often shortened to: phage.  a virus that is parasitic in a bacterium and multiplies within its host, which is destroyed when the new viruses are released

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bacteriophage Scientific  

/ băk-tîr′ē-ə-fāj′ /

1. A virus that infects and destroys bacterial cells.

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Other Word Forms

• bacteriophagic adjective
• bacteriophagous adjective
• bacteriophagy noun

Etymology

Origin of bacteriophage

First recorded in 1920–25; from French bactériophage; bacterio-, -phage

Example Sentences

The researchers also discovered that elements of their active genetic system can be transported by bacteriophage, or phage, viruses that naturally infect bacteria.

From Science Daily

Once assembled, the genome is introduced into a safe laboratory strain where it becomes an active bacteriophage.

From Science Daily

"This kind of research is important for understanding how we can select the optimal bacteriophages for therapies, and to understand the differences in infectious behavior we see in the lab," Dr. Hodgkinson-Bean says.

From Science Daily

They're known as bacteria eaters, or bacteriophage, or commonly as phage.

From BBC

The test uses harmless bacteriophages embedded in the gel to locate target bacteria in a sample of fluid such as lake water, urine or a container of milk, even in low concentrations.

From Science Daily