Superinfection

Superinfection

In virology, superinfection is the process by which a cell that has previously been infected by one virus gets coinfected with another virus at a later point in time.

In medicine, superinfection is an infection following a previous infection, especially when caused by microorganisms that are resistant or have become resistant to the antibiotics used earlier.

Superinfection, according to Dorland's illustrated medical dictionary, is a condition produced by sudden growth of a type of bacteria, different from the original offenders in a wound or lesion under treatment.

Superinfection in Lambda phage

When a cell is a lambda lysogen, another lambda phage that infects is not able to undergo lytic development and produce phage. The incoming phage can inject DNA, however, the DNA is immediately shut down and no transcription/translation of the lambda initiates. Therefore, lambda lysogens are immune to infection by another lambda phage particle. The reason is because the lysogen is continuously producing cI repressor. The amount of cI protein exceeds the amount needed to shut down more than one phage. The extra repressor binds to the superinfecting phage DNA and prevents its transcription.

ee also

* Reassortment


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • superinfection — [so͞o΄pərin fek′shən] n. an additional infection occurring during the course of an existing infection, usually caused by opportunistic microorganisms resistant to the antimicrobial agents used in treating the first infection …   English World dictionary

  • superinfection — A new infection in addition to one already present. * * * su·per·in·fec·tion in fek shən n a second infection superimposed on an earlier one esp. by a different microbial agent of exogenous or endogenous origin that is resistant to the treatment… …   Medical dictionary

  • superinfection — noun Date: circa 1922 reinfection or a second infection with a microbial agent (as a bacterium, fungus, or virus) • superinfect transitive verb …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • superinfection — (soo per in fek shun) A new bacterial or fungal infection of a patient that is resistant to the drug(s) being used for treatment …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • superinfection — /sooh peuhr in fek sheuhn/, n. Pathol. marked proliferation of a parasitic microorganism during antimicrobial treatment for another infection. [1920 25; SUPER + INFECTION] * * * …   Universalium

  • superinfection — noun An infection which follows or occurs during another infection or disease process …   Wiktionary

  • superinfection — noun Medicine infection occurring after or on top of an earlier infection, especially following treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics …   English new terms dictionary

  • superinfection — su·per·infection …   English syllables

  • superinfection — n. an infection arising during the course of another infection and caused by a different microorganism, which is usually resistant to the drugs used to treat the primary infection. The infective agent may be a normally harmless inhabitant of the… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • superinfection — su•per•in•fec•tion [[t]ˈsu pər ɪnˌfɛk ʃən[/t]] n. pat infection by a parasitic microorganism during treatment for another infection • Etymology: 1920–25 …   From formal English to slang

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