prophage

noun

pro·​phage ˈprō-ˌfāj 

-ˌfäzh

: an intracellular form of a bacteriophage in which it is harmless to the host, is usually integrated into the hereditary material of the host, and reproduces when the host does

Examples of prophage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once activated, the prophage cuts itself out of the bacterial genome, replicates and then packages its DNA into phages. — Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2018

Known as a prophage, this stretch of foreign DNA can persist for generations before activating. — Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2018

In the right conditions—say, if the bacteria are damaged, stressed, or exposed to certain conditions—prophages can awaken. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 1 Feb. 2018

But sometimes, a prophage gets trapped by a crippling mutation. — Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2011

Within the bacterial genome, the viral DNA is called a prophage. — Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2011

Word History

Etymology

pro- entry 1 + phage after French probactériophage, from pro- pro- entry 1 + bactériophage bacteriophage

Note: The French word probactériophage was introduced by André Lwoff and Antoinette Gutmann in "Recherches sur un Bacillus megatherium lysogène," Annales de l'Institut Pasteur, vol. 78, no. 6 (June, 1950), p. 734.

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prophage

• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage
• engage
• enrage
• leafage
• messuage
• offstage
• onstage
• outrage
• pelage

Medical Definition

prophage

noun

pro·​phage ˈprō-ˌfāj  -ˌfäzh 

: an intracellular form of a bacteriophage in which it is harmless to the host, is usually integrated into the hereditary material of the host, and reproduces when the host does