Toxigenicity in Corynebacterium Diphtheriae is Due to Phage Conversion

Question

Toxigenicity in Corynebacterium diphtheriae is due to phage conversion.

Accepted Answer

The ability of Corynebacterium diphtheriae to produce the diphtheria toxin is due to the introduction of genetic material from a temperate bacteriophage, known as the tox gene. This is known as phage conversion and is responsible for the toxigenicity of the bacteria. Without the phage, the bacteria are unable to produce the toxin.