Bacteriophages attach to a specific bacterial host and inject their genetic material into the cell. This can lead to two types of life cycles: the lytic cycle, where the phage replicates and causes the bacterial cell to lyse, and the lysogenic cycle, where the phage DNA integrates into the host genome and replicates along with the host cell without causing immediate harm. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial in antimicrobial resistance management and potential therapeutic applications.
