Molecular biology
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 2 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.