Podoviridae

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Podoviridae is a family of bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. The family is characterized by its short, non-contractile tails. Podoviridae is one of the three families in the order Caudovirales, which also includes Myoviridae and Siphoviridae.

Structure

Podoviridae virions are non-enveloped and have an icosahedral head with a diameter of approximately 60 nm. The head is connected to a short tail, which is typically around 10-20 nm in length. The tail is non-contractile and is used to inject the viral DNA into the host bacterium.

Genome

The genome of Podoviridae is linear, double-stranded DNA and ranges from 18 to 79 kilobases in length. The genome encodes for approximately 40 to 100 proteins. The DNA is packaged into the head of the virion and is injected into the host cell through the tail.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Podoviridae begins with the attachment of the virion to the host bacterium. This is mediated by receptor-binding proteins located on the tail fibers. Once attached, the viral DNA is injected into the host cell. The viral DNA then hijacks the host's cellular machinery to replicate and produce new virions. The newly formed virions are released from the host cell through lysis, which is facilitated by enzymes encoded by the viral genome.

Taxonomy

Podoviridae is divided into several genera, including:

• T7-like viruses
• P22-like viruses
• phi29-like viruses

Each genus contains multiple species that infect different types of bacteria.

Applications

Podoviridae have been studied extensively for their potential use in phage therapy, an alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections. They are also used as tools in molecular biology for the study of bacterial genetics and gene regulation.

See Also

• Bacteriophage
• Caudovirales
• Myoviridae
• Siphoviridae
• Phage therapy