Potential Relations between Phage Survival, Multiplication Rate, and Capsid Characteristics

<p>Evolutionary theory predicts that a high decay rate is associated with an elevated multiplication rate. Forces exerted on the capsid might lead to the rupture of the head of phages, leading to their inactivation. The multiplication rate of phages is possibly associated with properties of phage particles as a consequence of kinetic and energetic considerations involved in the assembly of the capsid and/or the encapsidation of the genome.