What does bacteriophagic mean?
Bacteriophagic is a technical adjective for something connected with bacteriophages, the viruses that infect bacteria. It most often describes infection or lysis caused by a phage rather than bacterial growth being inhibited by an ordinary chemical. In laboratory and medical writing, “bacteriophagic activity” can mean the action of a phage against susceptible bacteria, while “bacteriophagic treatment” refers to the therapeutic use of phages. The term belongs mainly to specialist biological, microbiological, and medical contexts, though it is understandable in general technical prose. Its interest lies in the biological process it names: a phage attaches to a susceptible bacterium, redirects the cell’s machinery, and then often causes the cell to burst, releasing new phages. This makes bacteriophagic organisms both a subject of basic science and a focus of applied research into alternatives to antibiotics.
adjectiveRelating to a bacteriophage or to infection of bacteria by bacteriophages; specifically, causing the lysis of bacterial cells through phage activity.
- Relating to bacteriophages or caused by their infection of bacterial cells, especially through bacterial lysis.
"The bacteriophagic treatment reduced the bacterial load in the culture."
"The strain showed strong bacteriophagic activity after exposure to the matching phage."
"Bacteriophagic therapy has been studied as a possible alternative to conventional antibiotics."
A bacteriophagic virus can turn a bacterium into a viral copy factory before bursting it open.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does bacteriophagic come from?
Bacteriophagic was formed in English from bacteriophage and the adjectival suffix -ic. Bacteriophage combines bacterium, ultimately from Greek baktrion, meaning “rod” or “stick,” with phage, from Greek phagein, meaning “to eat.” The same Greek root appears in phagocyte and phagocytosis, although those words concern cellular engulfment rather than infection by phages.
Related word forms
How bacteriophagic is actually used
This is chiefly a specialist biological, microbiological, and medical term. It is more specific than “antibacterial,” since it identifies bacteria affected by phages rather than by every kind of antibacterial agent.
Easily confused with bacteriophagic
A bacteriophage is the virus that infects a bacterium, whereas bacteriophagic is the adjective describing the phage, its activity, or its effects.