Lytic phages are a type of bacteriophage that infects bacterial cells, leading to the destruction of the host cell through a process known as lysis. These phages follow a specific life cycle that results in the rapid replication of their viral components, culminating in the release of new phage particles and the death of the bacterial cell. This lytic cycle distinguishes them from lysogenic phages and underlines their significance in various fields including medicine and biotechnology.
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