Prophage

As prophage is referred to phage DNA, which in the genome of bacteria were installed.

Temperate phages build into the bacterial genome for a while. Here they then remain silent, i.e. the phage genes are not read. If the bacterium divides, the phage genes are simply duplicated as well. The phage is thus also increased. The phage genes can, however, also be activated again, so that the phage actively reproduce again.

Prophages can also indirectly trigger various human diseases. For example, Streptococcus pyogenes ( scarlet fever ), Clostridium botulinum ( botulism ) and Vibrio cholerae ( cholera ) are only pathogenic (= harmful, pathogenic) if they contain a certain prophage that encodes the respective toxin.

Analogous to the prophage, there is also a provirus .