Twort

Definition

Twort is a bacteriophage discovered by Frederick Twort in 1915. It infects and lyses bacterial cells.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Frederick Twort, a British bacteriologist, discovered the first bacteriophage in 1915.
2. Twort's discovery led to the understanding of viruses that specifically target bacteria.
3. Bacteriophages like Twort have a lytic cycle, where they infect and then lyse the host cell to release new phage particles.
4. Twort's work laid the foundation for future research on bacteriophages and their potential use in antibacterial therapies.
5. The discovery of Twort was simultaneous with Félix d'Hérelle's independent discovery, leading to the recognition of bacteriophages.

Review Questions

Related terms

Bacteriophage:

A type of virus that infects bacteria.

Lytic Cycle:

A process where a virus infects a host cell, replicates, and causes lysis of the cell.

Félix d'Hérelle: A microbiologist who independently discovered bacteriophages around the same time as Frederick Twort.