Group Group I (dsDNA) Family Siphoviridae Rank Genus | Order Caudovirales Subfamily Unassigned | |
Similar Siphoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Caudovirales, Podoviridae, Myoviridae | ||
C2likevirus (synonyms c2-like viruses, c2-like phages) is a genus of viruses in the family Siphoviridae, unassigned to a sub-family. Bacteria serve as the natural host, with transmission achieved through passive diffusion. There are currently two species in this genus, including the type species Lactococcus phage c2.
Contents
Taxonomy
Group: dsDNA
Structure
C2likeviruses are nonenveloped, with a head and tail. The prolate head is about 56 nm long and 41 nm wide and has a collar. The tail is cross-banded, is about 86-111 nm long, 8 nm wide, and has short tail fibers. Genomes are linear, around 22kb in length.
Genome
Both species have been fully sequenced. They range between 22k and 23k nucleotides, with 37 to 39 proteins. Both complete genomes are available here
Life cycle
Viral replication is cytoplasmic. The virus attaches to the host cell's adhesion receptors using its terminal fibers, and viral exolysin degrades the cell wall enough to eject the viral DNA into the host cytoplasm via long flexible tail ejection system. Replication follows the DNA strand displacement, via replicative transposition model. DNA templated transcription is the method of transcription. Bacteria serve as the natural host. Transmission routes are passive diffusion.
History
According to ICTV's 1996 report, the genus C2likevirus was first accepted under the name c2-like phages, assigned only to family Siphoviridae. The whole family was moved to the newly created order Caudovirales in 1998, and the genus was renamed to c2-like viruses in ICTV's seventh report in 1999. In 2012, the genus was renamed again, this time to C2likevirus.