How Viruses Enter Cells: A Story behind Bacteriophage T4

Viruses are the most abundant biological agents in nature that need to enter living cells to successfully replicate (1). Although cells are protected by membranes, viruses have developed elaborate mechanisms to overcome this defense. One of the most known and fascinating examples is bacteriophage T4, which infects Escherichia coli bacteria (2). The structure of this virus has been well investigated (2–6). It consists of three main parts that are assembled independently and then joined together to produce a mature phage (2).

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