VIRION
Lemon-shaped. May be enveloped, as virion is surrounded by a 6nm thick layer. The virion has the property to develop two tails after budding if incubated at 85 ºC, the temperature close to that of its natural habitat.
GENOME
Circular dsDNA genome of 62 kb, encoding for 72 ORFs.
GENE EXPRESSION
Genome is probably transcribed by host RNA polymerase.
REPLICATION
CYTOPLASMIC
- Virus attaches to host cell, and genomic DNA penetrates into the cytoplasm.
- Viral genome is integrated into host chromosome
- Transcription of viral genes, possibly by a host RNA polymerase.
- Genome replication.
- Assembly and release of virions.