VIRION
Non-enveloped, head-tail structure. The icosahedral head is about 93-96 nm in diameter. Has a neck without a collar, and a small base plate. The tail of about 96-140 nm in length and 20 nm in width is contractile. Fibers about 38 nm in length are attached on the tail.
GENOME
Linear, dsDNA genome of about 132-197 kb, encoding for about 149-245 proteins.
GENE EXPRESSION
Genes are transcribed by operons.
REPLICATION
CYTOPLASMIC
- Adsorption: the phage attaches to the target cell through its tail fibers.
- Ejection of the viral DNA into host cell cytoplasm by contraction of the tail sheath.
- Transcription and translation of early genes.
- Replication of the viral genome. 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.