the head
This type of virus is a bacteriophage. It attacks bacteria. The T4 bacteriophage attacks E. coli.
Bacteriophage T4 virus
T4 bacteriophage is a DNA virus. It infects bacteria by injecting its DNA into the host cell and hijacking the cell's machinery to replicate its genetic material.
Bacteriophages ARE viruses that attack bacteria, making this question invalid. But if they meant to say "what bacteria does it attack?" then I would say T4 and E. Coli
T4 bacteriophage primarily inhabits environments where its host, Escherichia coli (E. coli), is present, such as in the intestines of animals and in various aquatic environments. It exists in the form of free viruses in the environment, waiting to infect bacterial cells. T4 bacteriophage thrives in nutrient-rich conditions that support bacterial growth, as its lifecycle depends on the presence of E. coli to reproduce.
Woo-Kul Lee has written: 'Kinetic modeling of the adsorption of structural stability mutants of bacteriophage T4 lysozyme at solid-water interfaces' -- subject(s): Bacteriophage T4, Absorption and adsorption, Lysozyme
Once the viral DNA is duplicated in the cell.
T4 bacteriophage primarily infects bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is a common model organism in microbiology. It attaches to and injects its genetic material into the bacterial cell, leading to the reproduction of new phage particles and ultimately the lysis of the bacterial cell. While T4 is specific to bacteria, it plays a crucial role in studying bacteriophage biology and has implications for bacterial genetics and biotechnology.
Bacteriophage viruses are nonliving. They are DNA or RNA encapsulated in a protein coated capsule with recognition sites to bind to specific target sites on bacteria and insert their genetic material for viral replication or to induce changes in the bacterial genetic material.
Once the T4 bacteriophage injects its genetic material into the host cell, infection becomes irreversible. This usually occurs as soon as the phage's tail fibers attach and the genome is injected, initiating the takeover of the host cell machinery for viral replication.
In the lytic cycle of bacteriophage T4 infection, the viral DNA takes control of the host cell machinery to replicate and assemble new viruses, leading to cell lysis and release of viral particles. This process does not involve integration of the viral DNA into the host genome, which is a key characteristic of the lysogenic cycle.
The T4 bacteriophage, a type of virus that infects bacteria, is primarily found in various environments where its bacterial hosts, such as Escherichia coli, are present. It can be located in soil, water, and even within the intestines of animals. T4 is of significant interest in molecular biology and genetics due to its well-studied structure and life cycle.