The Big Picture Book of Viruses: Myoviridae

Host: Virus infects bacteria.

Genome: Virions contain 48 % nucleic acid. Virions contain one molecule of linear double stranded DNA. Total genome length is 336000 nt. Double stranded DNA circularly permuted. Genome sequence has terminal repeated sequences. Guanine + cytosine ratio 35 %. Special nucleotides found in genome, are 5-hydroxy-methyl cytosine (instead of thymidine).

Morphology: Virions not enveloped; tailed; head. Head separated from tail by a neck, tail complex, consisting of a central tube and a contractile sheath, provided with a collar, base plate, 6 short spikes and 6 long fibers. Contraction seems to require ATP. Nucleocapsids isometric to quasi-isometric elongated; 95-111 nm long; 65-80 nm in diameter. Symmetry icosahedral. Nucleocapsids appear to be angular. 152 capsomers per nucleocapsid. Tail contractile; 80-455 nm long; 16 nm wide.

(Note: for more information about the taxonomy and structure of this virus, see the ICTV database below.)

Myoviridae Images:
Genus	EM Images	Example Virus Name	Description of Image
T4 -like phages		coliphage T4 Electron Micrograph	From An Introduction to the Bacteriophage T4 Virus
		bacteriophage T4	Example electron micrograph from ICTV.
		bacteriophage T4	Example electron micrograph from ICTV.
		bacteriophage T4 graphic	From An Introduction to the Bacteriophage T4 Virus
		bacteriophage T4 graphic	From An Introduction to the Bacteriophage T4 Virus
		bacteriophage T4	Viral particles seen by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at a magnification of 390,000x). This image is from Dennis Kunkel's excellent Microscopy Science and Photography Through a Microscope web site.
		Bacteriophage cartoon with core exposed	from the Graphics Gallery at Genentech's Access Excellence Biotech Information Site.
		Bacteriophage DNA	Viral DNA seen by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at a magnification of 153,000x). This image is from Dennis Kunkel's excellent Microscopy Science and Photography Through a Microscope web site.
P1-like phages	N/A
P2-like phages		Enterobacteria virus P2	Virion seen at using transmission electron microscopy, the bar represents 100 nm. This image is from the Electron Micrograph Library: Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
		Enterobacteria virus P2	Virion seen at using transmission electron microscopy, at a higher magnification. This image is from the Electron Micrograph Library: Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Mu-like phages	N/A
SP01-like Phages	N/A
PhiH-like viruses	N/A
Unassigned viruses		Aeromonas virus 31	Virus infects Aeromonas salomicida.
		Aeromonas virus 31	Virus infects Aeromonas salomicida.
		Bacillus virus G/TD>	Virus infects Bacillus megaterium.
		Bacillus virus Bace-11	Virus infects Bacillus cereus.
		Bacillus virus MP13	Virus infects Bacillus megaterium.
		Acinetobacter virus E14	Virus infects Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.
		Gluconobacter virus Wer	Virus infects Gluconobacter.
		"Killer" virus defect particle	Virus infects Bacillus subtilis.