Final answer:
A lytic infection concludes with the lysis of the host cell, where newly formed virulent phages cause the cell to burst and release new virus particles to infect others.
Step-by-step explanation:
A lytic infection concludes with the lysis of the host cell. In the lytic cycle of a virulent phage, after the phage infects the cell, it undergoes several stages, including attachment, penetration, biosynthesis, maturation, and ultimately release. During the release stage, new virions, or virus particles, cause the host cell to burst, or lyse, leading to the cell's death and the release of new phages into the environment to infect other cells. Unlike the lysogenic cycle where the phage integrates into the host genome, the lytic cycle results in the destruction of the host.
In the lytic cycle, the bacteriophage attaches to the host cell, injects its DNA, and takes over the cell's machinery to reproduce its genetic material and assemble new virus particles. Eventually, the host cell becomes so full of virus particles that it ruptures, leading to the release of the new viruses.