Final answer:
True, lysozyme produced during the lytic cycle of bacteriophage infection digests the host cell wall, which allows for the release of new phages and causes lysis of the host cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement (T/F) Viral lysozyme digests the host cell wall, releasing the newly made phage, and lysing the host cell in the release step. is true. During the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection, the virus utilizes various strategies to replicate itself within the bacterial host cell. Initially, the phage binds to the host cell and injects its DNA. Throughout the cycle, the phage DNA replicates and the cell machinery is hijacked to produce viral components.
After assembly of new virions, lysozyme, a phage-encoded enzyme, acts to break down the bacterial cell wall, facilitating the release of newly created phages and resulting in the lysis (bursting) of the host cell. The released viruses are then free to infect other cells.