Host range is generally determined by viral attachment protein and host
receptor protein interactions. For instance, the virus Lambda uses the
outer membrane protein LamB (a maltose transporter) as its receptor.
Bacteria that have this can be infected by Lambda; bacteria without it
cannot be infected.
--Alex
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Alex B. Berezow, Grad Student
Dept. of Microbiology
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle, WA 98195
