Mechanism associated particularly with T-even phages which can display environmentally induced extension of their latent periods.
Alternatively…
Delays in phage infection lysis not necessarily associated with environmental induction.
Lysis inhibition by the first definition is induced by the secondary adsorption of additional T-even phages and the direct result of lysis delay, other than longer infection latent periods, is larger infection burst sizes. The mechanism may serve various roles in phage ecology mostly associated with the utility either of larger burst sizes or protection of virion progeny from post-release inactivation. Rapid lysis mutants possess genetic defects that interfere with their ability to display lysis inhibition.
Alternative forms of lysis inhibition are generally not as well studied, appreciated, or known as the T-even phage lysis inhibition. Nonetheless, it is important when seeing this term that there can exist more than one phenomenon attached to "lysis inhibition".
For review of the older literature on lysis inhibition, see Abedon (1994).
For more on this topic, see Wikipedia, Google, and PubMed. Contact web master. Return to terms.