Molecular mechanisms of phage infection

Abstract

Molecular studies of the process of phage infection have laid the basis for much of our understanding of biology, from the mechanisms of DNA replication and transcription to the assembly of complex structures. This chapter provides a general overview and variety of examples of some of the principles involved in phage-host interactions at the molecular level. More detailed information about various specific phages and steps involved in these processes can be found in The Bacteriophages (Calendar 2005; 1988), the Encyclopedia of Virology (Granoff and Webster 1999) and Molecular Biology of Bacteriophage T4 (Karam, et al. 1994) as well as other books about individual phages and the exploding original literature and review articles in the field (Miller, et al. 2003b). Some areas, such as host recognition and the infection process, are explored in particular depth because of the paucity of reviews.