VIRION
Non-enveloped, head-tail structure. The icosahedral head is about 55 nm in diameter. The tail of about 115 nm in length and 21 nm in width is non-contractile. There is a small baseplate.
GENOME
Linear, dsDNA genome of about 49 kb, containing about 79 genes.
GENE EXPRESSION
REPLICATION
CYTOPLASMIC
- Adsorption: The phage attaches to target cell adhesion receptors through its tail fibers.
- Ejection of the viral DNA into host cell cytoplasm by long flexible tail ejection system.
- 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.