What type of viruses attack bacteria?

Bacteriophages are a specific type of virus that targets and infects bacteria. They are also referred to as phages and play a crucial role in the microbial ecosystem by controlling bacterial populations. Bacteriophages attach to the bacterial cell surface, inject their genetic material, and take over the bacterial machinery to reproduce, eventually leading to the lysis (bursting) of the host bacterium. This mechanism is significant in applications such as phage therapy, which explores bacteriophages as a treatment for bacterial infections, particularly those resistant to antibiotics.

Other options like amylases, lipases, and proteases refer to enzyme types, which are biological catalysts that assist in the breakdown of complex molecules within various organisms. They do not exhibit the ability to infect or kill bacteria, highlighting the unique function of bacteriophages as viruses specifically targeting bacterial cells.