What type of virus primarily uses lysis for the release process?

The type of virus that primarily utilizes lysis for the release process is bacteriophages. These viruses specifically target bacterial cells and enter them, using the host's cellular machinery to replicate their genetic material and produce new viral particles. Once the replication process is complete, the new bacteriophages accumulate within the bacterial cell, leading to an increase in internal pressure.

Eventually, the bacterium undergoes lysis, which is the bursting of the cell membrane due to this pressure. This lytic process allows the newly formed bacteriophages to be released into the environment, where they can infect other bacteria. This method of release is characteristic of lytic bacteriophages, contrasting with other types of viruses which may have different mechanisms, such as budding from the host membrane or remaining latent within the host.