1. to integrate viral DNA into the chromosome of a host cell, converting the cell into a lysogen
Usage: biology; microbiology; technical

Examples

• The bacteriophage lysogenized the bacterial cell by inserting its DNA into the host chromosome.
• When a temperate phage lysogenizes a bacterium, the viral genes become part of the bacterial genome.
• The researchers studied how certain viruses lysogenize their hosts without causing immediate lysis.
• Once the cell is lysogenized, the integrated viral DNA replicates along with the host DNA.
• The ability of the phage to lysogenize bacteria makes it useful in genetic engineering studies.