Corynebacteriophage

A corynebacteriophage (or just corynephage) is a DNA-containing bacteriophage specific for bacteria of genus Corynebacterium as its host. Corynebacterium diphtheriae virus strain Corynebacterium diphtheriae phage (aka Corynephage β or just β-phage) introduces toxigenicity into strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae as it encodes diphtheria toxin, it has subtypes beta c and beta vir. According to proposed taxonomic classification, corynephages β and ω are unclassified members of the genus Lambdavirus, family Siphoviridae.

Corynebacteriophage play a crucial role in the ecology and evolution of Corynebacterium species. They are viruses that specifically target and infect these bacteria, injecting their genetic material into the bacterial host and using the host's cellular machinery to replicate and produce more phages. The study of Corynephages is important not only for understanding the biology of these viruses but also for potential applications in biotechnology, such as using phages for bacterial control.

Corynebacteriophage, like other bacteriophages, exhibit a diverse range of structures and are classified based on various characteristics, including morphology, nucleic acid type, and genetic content.

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