A phage infection that directly leads to the maturation and release of phage progeny which then are released either by lysis or, instead, chronically.
Productive infections may be initiated either upon adsorption, following lytic-lysogeny decisions, or via induction. Productive infections also can follow resolution of the pseudolysogenic state.
Often in phage biology the phrase "lytic infection" is used when "productive infection" is more appropriate. This is because most phages release their progeny lytically rather than chronically during productive infections. As a result, when ignoring chronic infections, it is possible to use lytic infection as a synonym for productive. As a generalization, we thus can also speak of obligately productive phages, but this term, though potentially useful, is rarely employed and again with the phrase "lytic infection" often used when "productive infection" is more appropriate.
For more on this topic, see Wikipedia, Google, and PubMed. Contact web master. Return to terms.
