When the genome of a bacteriophage is integrated into the chromosomal DNA of a bacterium, it is known as a prophage.
Further Explanation:
The integration of a bacteriophage genome within the genome of a bacteria give rise to a prophage. A prophage can also reside as an extrachromosomal plasmid inside the bacteria. It is the harmless or dormant form of a phage, during which the viral genes remain with the bacterium and does not have any negative impact on the bacterial cell. In prophage, ‘pro’ stands for ‘before’ and ‘phage’ is the ‘viral component’. This implies that the prophage is in the state of the virus before its activation inside the host.
A prophage is capable of multiple things once inside the bacterial strain. It can enhance the potential of virulence of the bacteria in both plants and humans. It also enables bacteria to survive in extreme conditions. With the introduction of prophage into the pathogen, the pathogens are able to adapt and adjust to a wide range of environmental conditions. For example, Clostridium difficile is a pathogen that resides within the intestine and due to its anaerobic nature, it cannot survive in areas that are rich in oxygen content for a long period of time. In such conditions, prophages help bacterial species to attain resistance mechanisms and also provide metabolic advantages for the survival of the host cell which can lead to complete alteration of the bacterial chromosome.
A prophage is useful for research purposes as it can deduce a relationship between the host and bacterial cells. When a prophage is integrated within a non-pathogenic bacteria, one can find out whether the prophage contributes to the survival ability of the host or not.
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Answer Details:
Grade: Secondary School
Chapter: Prophage
Subject: Biology
Keywords:
Prophage, bacteriophage, bacterium, host cell, viral genome, bacterial genome, chromosomal DNA, pathogen, non-pathogenic bacteria.