Plasmaviridae is a family of bacteria-infecting viruses. Acholeplasma species serve as natural hosts. There is one genus in the family, Plasmavirus, which contains one species: Acholeplasma virus L2.[1][2][3] All viruses known in this family have been isolated from species in the class Mollicutes.
| Plasmavirus | |
|---|---|
| |
| EM of a plasmavirus | |
Virus classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Family: | Plasmaviridae |
| Genus: | Plasmavirus |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Plasmavirus
Plasmavirus L2
| |
This family is poorly studied and little is known about the diversity and biology of these viruses.
Taxonomy
editThe family has one genus, Plasmavirus, which has one recognized member: Acholeplasma virus L2.
There are five tentative members of Plasmavirus:
Genome
editThe genome is condensed, nonsegmented and consists of a single molecule of circular, supercoiled double-stranded DNA, 12 kilobase pairs in length. The genome has a rather high G-C content of ~32%.[4] The genome has 14 open reading frames,[2] and encodes at least 15 proteins, of which at least four are structural proteins embedded in the membrane.[citation needed]
Structure
editVirions are quasi-spherical, slightly pleomorphic, enveloped and about 80 nm (range 50–125 nm) in diameter.[1]
| Genus | Structure | Symmetry | Capsid | Genomic arrangement | Genomic segmentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plasmavirus | Spherical to pleomorphic | Undefined | Enveloped | Circular | Monopartite |
Life cycle
editViral replication is cytoplasmic. DNA-templated transcription is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by budding. Acholeplasma species serve as the natural host.[2]
| Genus | Host details | Tissue tropism | Entry details | Release details | Replication site | Assembly site | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plasmavirus | Bacteria: Acholeplasma sp. | None | Fusion | Membrane budding | Cytoplasm | Unknown | Unknown |
Infection
editA productive infectious cycle begins before a lysogenic cycle establishes the virus in the infected bacteria. After initial infection of the viral genome the virus may become latent within the host. Lysogeny involves integration into the host chromosome.
References
edit- ^ a b Krupovic, M; ICTV Report Consortium (May 2018). "ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Plasmaviridae". The Journal of General Virology. 99 (5): 617–618. doi:10.1099/jgv.0.001060. PMID 29611799.
- ^ a b c "Viral Zone". ExPASy. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "Virus Taxonomy: 2020 Release". International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). March 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ Büchen-Osmond, C. (Ed) (2003). 00.053. Plasmaviridae. In: ICTVdB—The Universal Virus Database, version 3. Büchen-Osmond, C. (Ed), ICTVdB Management, The Earth Institute and Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.