Imaging the infectious cycle of T7 at the single host-cell level

Abstract

T7 phages are bacterium infecting viruses, which can bind to their target cells with high specificity and efficiency. Target recognition is achieved by the interaction between the viral fibers and the host cell surface, followed by translocation of the viral DNA through a narrow channel into the target cell. The viral DNA has evolved to reprogram the bacterium for viral replication which finally destines the host cell to a violent lysis. In our studies we have used single-particle approaches to study this intimate connection on different levels.