Virus diseases in bacteria

Bacteria as vectors of viral diseases

Nature

Bacteriophages are viuses that infect bacteria. They include the following viral families: Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, Microviridae, and Leviviridae.

Background

The significance of virus diseases in bacteria, notably through bacteriophages, emerged in the early 20th century with Frederick Twort and Félix d’Hérelle’s discoveries. Initially seen in localized outbreaks disrupting industrial and laboratory fermentations, the phenomenon soon revealed worldwide impacts, influencing bacterial populations in natural and human-managed ecosystems. Over decades, global surveillance and advances in molecular biology deepened recognition of bacteriophage-related challenges to food safety, medicine, and environmental microbial dynamics.