VIRION
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Non-enveloped, head-tail structure. The icosahedral head is about 62-64 nm in diameter. The non-contractile tail is about 116-120 nm in length. there is a 20 nm wide baseplate with spikes.
GENOME
Linear, dsDNA genome of about 40-43 kb, encoding about 58-69 proteins.
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 fiber assembly and viral tail assembly.
- Mature virions are released from the cell by lysis.