Ampullaviridae
Encyclopedia
Ampullaviridae is a family of viruses that infect archaea. Only one genus in this family has been described. Only one species within this genus is known (Acidianus bottle-shaped virus).
The name is derived from the word ampulla (Latin
for bottle).
-shaped morphology with one narrow end that smoothly expands into a wider end. The narrow end of the viron projects beyond the envelope. The core of the viron is cone shaped and consists of three distinct structural units: the 'stopper', a nucleoprotein cone, consisting of double-stranded DNA and DNA-binding proteins and an inner core. The broad end of the viron exhibits an unusual structure with the 20 (± 2) thin filaments regularly distributed around, and inserted into, a disc or ring. The virons are 230 ± 20 nanometers (nm) in length, 75 ± 5 nm at the broad end and 4 ± 1 nm at the narrow end. The narrow end appears to bind to the host and is probably involved in viral genome transfer.
The genome is double stranded DNA
and about 23.8 kilobases in length. It encodes 56 open reading frames including at least six structural proteins.
History
The family was described during the investigation of the microbial flora of hot springs in Italy.The name is derived from the word ampulla (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for bottle).
Characteristics
These viruses are enveloped with an unusual morphology. The viron has a bottleBottle
A bottle is a rigid container with a neck that is narrower than the body and a "mouth". By contrast, a jar has a relatively large mouth or opening. Bottles are often made of glass, clay, plastic, aluminum or other impervious materials, and typically used to store liquids such as water, milk, soft...
-shaped morphology with one narrow end that smoothly expands into a wider end. The narrow end of the viron projects beyond the envelope. The core of the viron is cone shaped and consists of three distinct structural units: the 'stopper', a nucleoprotein cone, consisting of double-stranded DNA and DNA-binding proteins and an inner core. The broad end of the viron exhibits an unusual structure with the 20 (± 2) thin filaments regularly distributed around, and inserted into, a disc or ring. The virons are 230 ± 20 nanometers (nm) in length, 75 ± 5 nm at the broad end and 4 ± 1 nm at the narrow end. The narrow end appears to bind to the host and is probably involved in viral genome transfer.
The genome is double stranded 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...
and about 23.8 kilobases in length. It encodes 56 open reading frames including at least six structural proteins.