PhiKMV-like viruses
Encyclopedia
PhiKMV-like viruses are a genus
of Autographivirinae
viruses.
Bacteriophage
phiKMV and its relatives are known to be highly virulent phages, producing large (3 millimetre diameter) clear plaques upon plating on a susceptible host. The only reported exception is phage LKA1, which yields small plaques (1 mm (0.0393700787401575 in)) surrounded by a halo. While all other P. aeruginosa-specific phiKMV-like viruses use the Type IV pili as primary receptor, LKA1 particles attach to the bacterial lipopolysacharide layer.
imaging of purified phage particles revealed these phages as typical members of the Podoviridae
, with a head diameter of approximately 60 nm (6E-08 m) and a stubby tail with a length of 8–10nm. Although phiKMV phage resembles the well-studied podovirus T7 in overall genome
architecture, it was the first known T7-like phage which encoded a single-subunit RNA polymerase
gene
downstream its DNA
metabolism genes instead of in the early genomic region. Based on these properties, the "phiKMV-like viruses" genus is classified within the Autographivirinae
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Autographivirinae
Autographivirinae
Autographivirinae are a subfamily of viruses within the Podoviridae family.-History:Since the 1990s, the term "T7 supergroup" has been coined for the expanding group of bacteriophages related to coliphage T7, as members of the Podoviridae family...
viruses.
Bacteriophage
Bacteriophage
A bacteriophage is any one of a number of viruses that infect bacteria. They do this by injecting genetic material, which they carry enclosed in an outer protein capsid...
phiKMV and its relatives are known to be highly virulent phages, producing large (3 millimetre diameter) clear plaques upon plating on a susceptible host. The only reported exception is phage LKA1, which yields small plaques (1 mm (0.0393700787401575 in)) surrounded by a halo. While all other P. aeruginosa-specific phiKMV-like viruses use the Type IV pili as primary receptor, LKA1 particles attach to the bacterial lipopolysacharide layer.
Virology
Electron microscopicElectron microscope
An electron microscope is a type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to illuminate the specimen and produce a magnified image. Electron microscopes have a greater resolving power than a light-powered optical microscope, because electrons have wavelengths about 100,000 times shorter than...
imaging of purified phage particles revealed these phages as typical members of the Podoviridae
Podoviridae
The Podoviridae are a family of bacteriophages. Unlike the other families of tailed viruses this family has short tails that are non contractile.There are at least 74 species in this family.-Virology:...
, with a head diameter of approximately 60 nm (6E-08 m) and a stubby tail with a length of 8–10nm. Although phiKMV phage resembles the well-studied podovirus T7 in overall genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
architecture, it was the first known T7-like phage which encoded a single-subunit RNA polymerase
RNA polymerase
RNA polymerase is an enzyme that produces RNA. In cells, RNAP is needed for constructing RNA chains from DNA genes as templates, a process called transcription. RNA polymerase enzymes are essential to life and are found in all organisms and many viruses...
gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
downstream its DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
metabolism genes instead of in the early genomic region. Based on these properties, the "phiKMV-like viruses" genus is classified within the Autographivirinae
Autographivirinae
Autographivirinae are a subfamily of viruses within the Podoviridae family.-History:Since the 1990s, the term "T7 supergroup" has been coined for the expanding group of bacteriophages related to coliphage T7, as members of the Podoviridae family...
.