lysogenic

[ lahy-suh-jen-ik ]

adjective

, Microbiology.

1. harboring a temperate virus as a prophage or plasmid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lysogenic¹

1895–1900; lyso- (representing lysis ) + -genic

Example Sentences

The new virus is lysogenic, which means it invades and replicates inside its host, but usually without killing the bacterial cell.

From Science Daily

This behavior is known as the lysogenic cycle, in contrast to the lytic cycle in which a virus copies itself before bursting out of its host cell and destroying it.

From Salon

Viruses with this quality are called lysogenic phages.

From Washington Post