prophage

[ proh-feyj ]

noun

, Microbiology.

1. a stable, inherited form of bacteriophage in which the genetic material of the virus is integrated into, replicated, and expressed with the genetic material of the bacterial host.

prophage

/ ˈprəʊfeɪdʒ /

noun

1. a virus that exists in a bacterial cell and undergoes division with its host without destroying it Compare bacteriophage

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophage¹

1950–55; shortening of French probactériophage; pro- ¹, bacteriophage

Word History and Origins

Origin of prophage¹

C20: by contraction from French probactériophage; see pro- ², bacteriophage

Example Sentences

"Wolbachia has genes from a virus called prophage WO integrated into its genome. These genes -- cifA and cifB -- allow the bacteria to remarkably manipulate sperm and quickly spread through an insect population for their own good."

From Science Daily

"By altering this non-coding part of the genome, we found that Cif proteins start impacting sperm right from the earliest stages of development. Wolbachia's prophage WO genes act like master puppeteers, manipulating sperm development in a way that allows their genes and the symbiotic bacteria to quickly spread through arthropod populations."

From Science Daily

Wolbachia's prophage WO genes code for proteins that interfere with normal development of sperm cells.

From Science Daily

Forget the probiotic, he says; the future lies with the prophage.

From The New Yorker

Forget the probiotic, he says; the future lies with the prophage.

From The New Yorker