Multiplication of Virus - Characteristics

Description:

Multiplication of bacteriophages has been studied in T-even phages.

During the phase of infection and multiplication of virus three stages of virus are considered −

• Extracellular virion − The complete virus particle prior to infection.

• Vegetative phage − If the virus is free and performing autonomous replication it is called vegetative phage.

• Prophage − If the viral DNA become integrated with host DNA and replicated along with the host then they are called prophage.

Phages which have the capacity to become a prophage they are known as temperate phage.

Phage which do not have the capacity to become prophage are known as virulent phage.

Multiplication in virus can be lytic (for virulent phages) or lysogenic (for temperate phages).