Bacterial host cell lysis

Bacterial host cell lysis is the process by which bacterial cells are destroyed, releasing their intracellular contents into the environment. This often occurs during viral (bacteriophage) infection when specialized enzymes (endolysins/lysins) degrade the cell wall peptidoglycan and membrane proteins (holins) permeabilize the cytoplasmic membrane, allowing these enzymes to access their substrate and trigger rapid cell death and lysis[1][2][3]. In some bacteria, lysis is also mediated or regulated by bacterial autolysin systems, prophage elements, or in response to external stressors such as antibiotics or DNA-damaging agents. The event is central to bacteriophage replication (to release viral particles) and plays a role in bacterial population dynamics, biofilm structure, and host-pathogen interactions. Because "bacterial host cell lysis" is not a discrete molecular entity, but represents a process, it is not categorized as a receptor, enzyme, or canonical drug target[1][2][3][4].

Other names

bacterial cell lysisbacteriophage-induced lysishost cell lysiscell bursting

Induction of lysis via bacterial cell wall degradation (endolysin, lysins) Membrane permeabilization via holins Autolysin activation in bacteria