Plasmavirus
Classification
Superkingdom: Viruses, Family: Plasmaviridae, Genus: Plasmavirus
Species
Plasmavirus L2
Description and Significance
Plasmavirus L2, part of the Plasmaviridae family, is a bacteria-infecting virus with only one known host, being Acholeplasma laidlawii. There is only one genus in the Plasmaviridae family, being Plasmavirus, and only one species Plasmavirus L2 (or Acholeplasma virus L2). Little is known about the Plasmaviridae family and because it is poorly studied the diversity and biology of these viruses is largely unknown.
The virion are enveloped, spherical to pleomorphic, with no head-tail structure ranging from diameters of 50-125 nm. The capsid is about 80 nm in diameter. The absence of a regular capsid structure suggests plasmavirus virions consist of a condensed nucleoprotein bounded by a proteinaceous lipid vesicle.
Genome Structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence
factors, as well as patient symptoms.
References
[Sample reference] [http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/50/2/489 Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.]
Author
Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.
[[Category:Pages edited by students of Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington]]
