How Do You Spell COLIPHAGES?

1. Coliphages, short for coliform phages, are a type of virus that specifically infects coliform bacteria, which are a commonly found group of bacteria that include Escherichia coli (E. coli). Coliphages are part of a larger group of bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria.

   Coliphages are usually found in water sources that are contaminated with fecal matter, where coliform bacteria thrive. They play a significant role in regulating the population of coliform bacteria, as they infect and kill these bacteria, thus reducing their numbers in the environment. This makes coliphages valuable indicators of water quality, particularly in relation to fecal contamination.

   These viruses have a specific host range, meaning they only infect certain strains or species of coliform bacteria. Coliphages typically attach to the surface of their host bacteria and inject their genetic material into them. This genetic material then takes over the bacteria's cellular machinery, causing them to produce more copies of the virus. Eventually, the bacterial cell bursts, releasing a new generation of coliphages to continue the infection cycle.

   Coliphages have been extensively studied and used in research and environmental monitoring. They have also found applications in the field of water treatment, where they can be used as a natural and targeted means of controlling the population of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli. Additionally, coliphages have been investigated as potential alternatives to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, as they specifically target bacteria without harming human cells.

Common Misspellings for COLIPHAGES

The word "coliphages" is derived from two components: "coli" and "phages".

The term "coli" refers to the bacterium Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli. This bacterium was initially identified and named in 1885 by German-Austrian pediatrician and bacteriologist Theodor Escherich. He isolated the bacterium from the feces of infants suffering from diarrhea.

The term "phage" comes from the Greek word "phagein", which means "to eat". Phages, also known as bacteriophages, are viruses that specifically infect and replicate within bacteria by injecting their genetic material into bacterial cells.

Combining "coli" with "phages" creates the term "coliphages", which denotes viruses that target and infect Escherichia coli bacteria.