A: adsorption -> the tail fibres on the T4 phage, are complementary in 3D shape to the receptors present on the cell wall of the host cell
P: penetration -> lysozymes released by phage tail, to digest the peptidoglycan cell wall thus triggering a conformational change in the base plate
= initiate contraction of tail sheath + thrusting of hollow core tube through cell wall
= inject the viral genome into the host cell's cytoplasm
S: synthesis of viral capsid, genome, and enzymes -> the viral genome now present in the cytoplasm => undergoes replication, transcription and translation using host cell machinery (eg DNA/RNA polymerase, deoxyribonucleotides, ribosomes, etc)
M: maturation -> the newly synthesised, viral genome and enzymes are then packages into the newly synthesised capsids and are assembled for release
R: release -> the host cell is lysed, and burst releasing the newly synthesised bacteriophages, to infect other host cells