Jumbo Phage Infects a Bacterium

A jumbo phage infects a bacterium. A nucleus-like compartment (green) is formed to protect the newly synthesized phage genomes from bacterial defense systems. The capsids (gray) of the new phage travel along filaments called PhuZ (yellow) to be delivered to the nucleus where they dock in order to package phage DNA. Eventually, the bacterial cell lyses and the new phage emerge ready to infect new bacteria. Credit: Margot Riggi, Iwasa Lab, University of Utah. Copyright Elizabeth Villa and Joe Pogliano, UC San Diego