What does PHAGE mean?

**Parts of Speech:** Noun **Definition:** A phage is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. It is short for bacteriophage. **Pronunciations:** US: /feɪdʒ/, UK: /feɪdʒ/ **Origin and Usage:** The term phage was coined by the French-Canadian microbiologist Félix dHérelle in 1917. Phages were first discovered as a potential treatment for bacterial infections before the discovery of antibiotics. Today, phage therapy is still used in some countries to treat bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics. **Synonyms:** bacteriophage, bacterial virus **Related Words:** virus, cells, genes, genome, plasmid **Example Sentences:** - The researchers isolated a phage that was able to kill the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. - Phages have been used in some countries as an alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections. - The study found that some bacteria are able to resist phage infection by mutating their outer surface.