Question

The time from initial adsorption of phages to release of phages is called ______\

• A. Incubation period
• B. Latent period
• C. Withdrawal period
• D. Burst period

Hint:

Latent period = Adsorption to Release (cell remains intact). Burst period = Lysis and release of phage progeny.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, and their replication cycle consists of several sequential phases: adsorption, penetration, intracellular replication, assembly, and release.
Adsorption occurs when the phage tail fibers bind to specific receptor sites on the outer membrane or cell wall of the host bacterium.
The latent period is defined as the time interval between this initial adsorption of the phage and the first release of progeny virions.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
During the latent period, the bacterial cell remains intact, and no free phages are detected in the extracellular medium.
Inside the host cell, the phage is transcribing its genes, replicating its DNA, and synthesizing head and tail proteins.
This period varies depending on the specific phage strain, host bacterium, and environmental conditions (such as temperature and nutrients).
The latent period is followed by the burst period, which begins with host cell lysis and the rapid release of mature bacteriophage particles into the surrounding environment.
The total number of phages released per infected cell is referred to as the burst size.
Thus, the time between adsorption and release is the latent period.

Step 3: Final Answer
The latent period is the time interval from initial phage adsorption to the release of new phages.