Lysis and lysogeny refer to two different pathways of viral replication in host cells, specifically how bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) interact with their bacterial hosts.
Lysis occurs when a virus infects a bacterial cell, replicates itself, and then ultimately causes the destruction of the host cell. During this process, the viral genetic material takes over the host’s cellular machinery to produce new viral particles. Once enough new viruses are assembled inside the host, the bacterial cell is lysed (broken open), releasing the new viruses into the environment to infect other cells. This pathway is typically associated with lytic phages and results in rapid viral propagation and the death of the host cell.
On the other hand, lysogeny is a more subtle and prolonged interaction. Instead of immediately killing the host, a lysogenic bacteriophage integrates its genetic material into the bacterial chromosome and becomes a prophage. In this state, the viral DNA is replicated alongside the host’s DNA when the bacteria reproduce, allowing the virus to be passed on to daughter cells without causing immediate harm. The prophage can remain dormant for many generations until certain conditions trigger it to enter the lytic cycle, resulting in lysis at a later stage.
In summary, the primary difference lies in the outcome for the infected bacterial cell: lysis leads to immediate destruction of the cell, whereas lysogeny allows the virus to persist within the host genome without killing it right away. Understanding these two pathways is crucial in virology and can influence treatments and the use of bacteriophages in bacterial infections.