VIRION
Non enveloped, bacilliform particles of 130 x 30 nm. The capsid is presumably based on a T=3 icosahedral symmetry.
GENOME
Circular double stranded DNA of about 8000 base pairs with discontinuities in both strands: one in the transcribed strand and one to three in the non-transcribed strand.
GENE EXPRESSION
ORF2 and ORF3 are expressed by leaky scanning of genomic RNA.
REPLICATION
CYTOPLASMIC NUCLEAR
- Attachment of the viral proteins to host receptors mediates its entry into the host cell.
- The viral dsDNA is released into the nucleus where it is transcribed by host RNA polymerase II
- RNA translation produces viral proteins.
- Genomic RNA is retrotranscribed in the cytoplasm into new dsDNA genomes
- Genomes are encapsidated with capsid protein, releasing new virions.