Bacteria are little, yet they reproduce quickly. In just a few hours, one bacterium can expand into thousands or even millions of new bacteria. Bacteriophages are tiny viruses that can cause bacteria to become infected (phage). Bacteriophages are so little that they only have one cell, which is made up of a single strand of DNA coated in a protein sheath. When bacteriophages infect a bacterium, they can rapidly expand, causing the bacteria to burst and produce a large number of young phage. There are trillions of bacteria and bacteriophages in the human body, all of which are necessary for a normal, healthy life. Bacteriophage research has grown in importance as a result of its widespread presence and tight links to bacteria. Researchers can deduce fundamental principles of genome organization, co-evolution, and genome modelling and modification by analyzing bacteriophage genome sequences.
Common Bacteriophages are: