VIRION
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Non-enveloped, head-tail structure. Head is about 63 nm in diameter. The tail is short and non-contractile, about 12 x 8 nm, and has 6 prominent tail spikes.
GENOME
Linear, dsDNA genome of about 45 kb encoding for 68 genes.
GENE EXPRESSION
REPLICATION
CYTOPLASMIC
- Adsorption: the phage attaches to the target cell through its tail fibers.
- Ejection of the viral DNA into host cell cytoplasm.
- Transcription and translation of early genes.
- Replication of genomic DNA. Transcription and translation of late genes.
- Assembly of an empty procapsid and packaging of the genome.
- Viral tail fibers assembly and viral tail assembly.
- Mature virions are released from the cell by lysis.