What is the standard term for a virus that infects bacteria?

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Multiple Choice

What is the standard term for a virus that infects bacteria?

Explanation:
A virus that infects bacteria is called a bacteriophage. The word phage is often used as a shorthand, but bacteriophage specifies the host being bacteria and is the precise term in formal usage. Prophage refers to the phage genome integrated into a bacterial chromosome during lysogeny, not the virus particle itself. Virophage describes a virus that infects other viruses, not bacteria. So the standout, standard term is bacteriophage.

A virus that infects bacteria is called a bacteriophage. The word phage is often used as a shorthand, but bacteriophage specifies the host being bacteria and is the precise term in formal usage. Prophage refers to the phage genome integrated into a bacterial chromosome during lysogeny, not the virus particle itself. Virophage describes a virus that infects other viruses, not bacteria. So the standout, standard term is bacteriophage.

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