Coliphage

{{Short description|Bacteriophage that infects coliform bacteria}} A '''coliphage''' is a type of bacteriophage that infects coliform bacteria such as ''Escherichia coli''. Coliphage originate almost exclusively from human feces and from other warm-blooded animals.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Grabow WO |date=2001-04-01 |title=Bacteriophages : update on application as models for viruses in water |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/EJC115944 |journal=Water SA |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=251–268 |hdl=10520/EJC115944 }}</ref> When certain circumstances are met, such as a large number of susceptible hosts present at the right temperature, they can only partially replicate in sewage and contaminated waters.

Examples include ''Enterobacteria phage λ'' and species from the family Fersviridae. Coliphage levels reflect the persistence of pathogenic viruses in the environment and have been proposed as an indicator of fecal contamination in water.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Nappier SP, Hong T, Ichida A, Goldstone A, Eftim SE | title = Occurrence of coliphage in raw wastewater and in ambient water: A meta-analysis | journal = Water Research | volume = 153 | pages = 263–273 | date = April 2019 | pmid = 30735956 | pmc = 7169987 | doi = 10.1016/j.watres.2018.12.058 }}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{MeshName|Coliphages}} *[https://wardsci.com/store/product/8870231/ward-s-live-coliphage-set A science project] targeted towards students showing an example of the use of Coliphages

Category:Bacteriophages

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