During the lytic cycle, how many phages are released from the infected host cell?

Explanation

During the lytic cycle of bacteriophages, the host bacterial cell is eventually lysed (burst open), releasing numerous new phage particles into the surrounding environment. The actual number of phages produced per infected bacterium can vary, but as you mentioned, estimates often range from around 100 to 200 phages. This high burst size is a characteristic feature of the lytic cycle. The virus takes advantage of the host cell's machinery to produce a large number of progeny phages, ensuring the efficient spread of the viral infection to neighboring bacterial cells. The released phages can then go on to infect new host cells and continue the cycle.