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TEM of P1 bacteriophage
Transmission electron micrograph of a P1 bacteriophage. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect only bacterial cells. P1 is a temperate phage (lysogeny) which means it is non virulent, does not multiply, or cause lysis (death by bursting). Instead its DNA attaches to the bacterium's & is passed on at each division. The attached condition is known as the prophage state. Phage DNA is contained within the head, a 20-faced (icosahedron) figure. The head is attached to a tail, a contractile sheath, which injects the DNA into the bacterium through a syringe-like tube (not seen). Mag: X580,000 (at 10x8 size).
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