VIRION
Virions not enveloped, bacilliform (30 x 60-900 nm) or isometric (45-50 nm in diameter).
GENOME
Monopartite, open circular, double stranded DNA of 7000-8200 base pairs with discontinuities in both strands: one in the transcribed strand and one to three in the non-transcribed strand. Encode for 1 to 8 proteins.
GENE EXPRESSION
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.