Final answer:
Bacteriophages, like T4, are viruses that target specific bacteria and are used in phage therapy to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in the question refers to a process that requires a special bacterial virus known as a bacteriophage. Phage therapy is a technique that employs bacteriophages to treat bacterial diseases. Bacteriophages are tailored to infect and destroy specific bacterial cells without harming the human cells, making them potential treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections. An example of a bacteriophage is T4, which targets Escherichia coli, a bacterium commonly found in the human intestinal tract.
The T4 bacteriophage attaches to the E. coli cell with its protein tail and injects its DNA into the host, eventually leading to the production of new virions and the lysis of the bacterial cell. Phage therapy has shown promise, especially as antibiotic resistance becomes an ever-increasing concern. Though not widely approved for human treatment around the globe, phage therapy's potential is recognized in the scientific community and some regions such as the Republic of Georgia.