Lysogeenisestä

Lysogeenisestä is a Finnish term that translates to "lysogenic" in English. It refers to a stage in the life cycle of certain viruses, specifically bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria). In the lysogenic cycle, the viral genetic material, known as the prophage, integrates into the host bacterium's chromosome. Unlike the lytic cycle, where the virus immediately replicates and destroys the host cell, the lysogenic cycle involves a period of dormancy.

During this dormancy, the prophage is replicated along with the host DNA whenever the bacterium divides. The bacterial cell, now containing the viral genetic material, is called a lysogenic bacterium. The prophage typically does not express its genes and does not harm the host cell. However, under certain conditions, such as stress to the host bacterium, the prophage can be induced to enter the lytic cycle. This induction causes the prophage to excise itself from the bacterial chromosome, initiate viral replication, and ultimately lead to the lysis (bursting) of the host cell and the release of new viral particles.

The lysogenic cycle allows viruses to persist within a bacterial population without immediately killing their hosts. This strategy can be advantageous for viral survival, as it ensures a continuous supply of host cells for future replication. Lysogeny also plays a role in bacterial genetics, as the integrated prophage can carry genes that confer new traits to the host bacterium, a phenomenon known as transduction.