Answer:
Viruses are not living organisms, and for that reason a bacteriophage virus does not feed on bacteria, but uses them to replicate, producing lysis of the bacterial cell in the process.
Explanation:
Viruses are structures formed by genetic material —DNA or RNA—covered by a protein envelope called the viral capsid. These structures do not perform the vital functions of a cell, so they are not considered living organisms.
A bacteriophage virus is characterized by using prokaryotic cells to replicate, destroying them in the process.
Viruses need a living cell to be able to replicate, so they introduce their viral genome into them to replace the genetic material of their nucleus and be able to multiply. They can do this:
- Introducing the genetic material from outside the cell.
- Entering directly into the cell to be able to replicate.
Bacteriophage viruses do not eat the bacteria, they simply use it to reproduce, and then happens the lysis of the bacterial cell.
