How is bacteriophage used as a cloning vector?

The phage particle recognizes and binds to its host, E. coli, causing DNA in the head of the phage to be ejected through the tail into the cytoplasm of the bacterial cell. Usually, a “lytic cycle” ensues, where the lambda DNA is replicated many times and the genes for head, tail and lysis proteins are expressed.

Why are bacteriophages used as vectors in recombinant DNA technology?

In the case of cloning, the lysogenic cycle is most important, because, the phage DNA can carry a specific gene that is further incorporated in the host genome. As a result, the host genome will code a specific gene carries by the phage. Therefore, lambda phages are mostly used as a cloning vector.

Is a bacteriophage a vector?

We have talked about plasmids as vectors for cloning small pieces of DNA. The limitation of this vector is the size of DNA that can be introduced into the cell by transformation. Examples of these are bacteriophage and cosmid vectors and more recently yeast artificial chromosomes.

What can bacteriophages be used for?

Bacteriophages (BPs) are viruses that can infect and kill bacteria without any negative effect on human or animal cells. For this reason, it is supposed that they can be used, alone or in combination with antibiotics, to treat bacterial infections.

Why is bacteriophage lambda used as a vector?

Bacteriophage lambda has been in use as a cloning vector for over 25 years, and has been used extensively as an expression vector. The efficiency of packaging and infection, and the simplicity of plaque screening are advantages of lambda as a cloning vector.

What are bacteriophage vectors name the two phage vectors that are commonly used?

There are two kinds of λ phage vectors – insertion vector and replacement vector. Insertion vectors contain a unique cleavage site whereby foreign DNA with size of 5–11 kb may be inserted.

Why do plastids and bacteriophages used as cloning vectors?

Plasmids and bacteriophages have the ability to replicate within bacterial cells independently of the chromosomal DNA.

What are bacteriophage vectors name the 2 commonly used phage vectors?

Use of bacteriophages as vectors : (1) The commonly used bacteriophages are M 13 and lambda phage. They infect E. coli.

What are the uses of bacteriophage in genetic engineering?

Phages can be used as biocontrol agents in agriculture and petroleum industry. Moreover phages are used as vehicles for vaccines both DNA and protein, for the detection of pathogenic bacterial strain, as display system for many proteins and antibodies.

What are phage vectors?

Overview of DNA cloning steps 18-8). 1. Both vector DNA and insert DNA are treated with the same restriction enzyme. This produces matching ends on both insert DNA and vector DNA, allowing them to reanneal with each other. 2.

What is commonly used as a vector?

A vector containing foreign DNA is termed recombinant DNA. The four major types of vectors are plasmids, viral vectors, cosmids, and artificial chromosomes. Of these, the most commonly used vectors are plasmids.

What is the common vector of bacteriophage?

Commonly used bacteriophages are M13, f1, fd and lambda (λ) phage. A commonly used vector is that of the lambda (λ) phage. Bacteriophage λ, which infects E. coli cells, can be used as cloning vector. DNA of λ phage is 48.5 kb in length. At its ends are the cos (cohesive) sites, which consist of 12 bp cohesive ends.

How can a phage particle be used as a vector?

In simple words if the genome of the phage particle is removed and instead a gene of interest to be transported to a test organism or to incorporate it in the test organism’s genome (prophage formation) is put into the phage particle, it can act as an useful vector.

How do you clone a phage vector?

Cloning of foreign DNA in a nonessential region of phage vector. Bacteriophages provide another source of cloning vectors. Since usually, a phage has a linear DNA molecule, a single break will generate two fragments, which are later joined together with foreign DNA to generate a chimeric phage particle (Fig. 39.9).

How do bacteriophages replicate?

Once a bacteriophage attaches to a susceptible host, it pursues one of two replication strategies: lytic or lysogenic. During a lytic replication cycle, a phage attaches to a susceptible host bacterium, introduces its genome into the host cell cytoplasm, and utilizes the ribosomes of the host to manufacture its proteins.