Microbacterium virus MuffinTheCat

Tectiviridae virion

Microbacterium virus MuffinTheCat

Microbacterium virus MuffinTheCat is a type of bacteriophage that infects bacteria of the genus Microbacterium. This virus belongs to the family Myoviridae and has a double-stranded DNA genome.

Discovery

Microbacterium virus MuffinTheCat was first discovered in a soil sample collected from a farm in California in 2015. It was isolated and characterized in a laboratory setting using standard virological techniques.

Structure and Genome

The virus has an icosahedral head and a contractile tail, typical of phages in the Myoviridae family. Its genome consists of approximately 50,000 base pairs encoding for various proteins involved in the infection and replication process.

Replication Cycle

Upon infecting a host bacterium of the genus Microbacterium, the virus attaches to the cell surface and injects its genetic material into the host. The viral genome then hijacks the host's cellular machinery to replicate itself, leading to the production of new viral particles. Eventually, the host cell lyses, releasing the newly formed viruses to infect other bacterial cells.

Role in Research

Studies on Microbacterium virus MuffinTheCat have provided valuable insights into the interactions between bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts. Understanding the mechanisms of viral infection and replication can have implications for the development of novel antimicrobial strategies.