Can a Bacteria get a Virus?

[Lance]

Simple question: Can a bacteria get a virus?

Viruses attack individual cells, and bacteria are single cells, so are there viruses that can attack bacteria?

[Arneb]

There is a vast number of viruses specialised for attacking bacteria. They are called bacteriophages ("Stick eaters"), or just "phages".

Phages are one of the most interesting subjects inbiology, and the research field is highly dynamic. They can kill bacteria, they can make bacteria more dangerous (for example, in the case of diphtheria or Clostridum difficile enterocolitis), they serve as tools in molecular biologiy and genetics. Phages may be tiny, but they are huge.

Viruses have a relatively narrow range of hosts. So there are no viruses attacking both bacteria and eukaryotic cells.

[Lance]

Thank you!

Viruses have a relatively narrow range of hosts. So there are no viruses attacking both bacteria and eukaryotic cells.

Okay, so that seems to rule out my nightmare scenario of our friend, SARS-CoV-2, over time, mutating and species hopping to a point of wiping out all life on Earth. Of course, if it wipes out everything else EXCEPT bacteria, maybe we can have a fresh start. Lizard people?

[Lianachan]

Lizard people?

You’re forgetting global warming and rising sea levels. It’ll be fish people.

[Arneb]

Thank you!

Viruses have a relatively narrow range of hosts. So there are no viruses attacking both bacteria and eukaryotic cells.

Okay, so that seems to rule out my nightmare scenario of our friend, SARS-CoV-2, over time, mutating and species hopping to a point of wiping out all life on Earth. Of course, if it wipes out everything else EXCEPT bacteria, maybe we can have a fresh start. Lizard people?

In fact, SARS-CoV2 had to do a lot of mutaating in order even to jump to our species. No, the most harmful species on the planet is, and will be for some time, homo sapiens.

Reminds me. Two planets walk into a bar. So how are you asks the bartender. Not so good, says the first planet. I got a real bad case of homo sapiens. Don't worry, says his buddy. That one passes rather quickly.