Question

Bacteriophages kill

• A. Fungi
• B. Parasites
• C. Bacteria
• D. Viruses

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Bacteria

Bacteriophages are the viruses that infect and multiply in bacteria, hence the name bacteriophages. Their life cycle includes adsorption of virus to host cell, penetration, eclipse, assembly and lysis. The first step in viral infection is adsorption which includes encounter of virus to a susceptible host cell and its specific binding to to receptor sites on the cell membrane. This is followed by uncoating of virus by penetration and includes penetration of host cell membrane by whole virus or its nucleic acid. Penetration is followed by eclipse phase during which viral particles are being replicated and individual viral components are formed and but are not infectious. Eclipse is followed by assembly of individual viral components into intact infectious virions which are then released by rupture of host cell i.e., lysis.

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.