Bicaudaviridae is a family of hyperthermophilic archaeal viruses. Members of the genus Acidianus serve as natural hosts. There is only one genus, Bicaudavirus, and one species, Acidianus two-tailed virus, in this family.[1][2][3] However, Sulfolobus tengchongensis spindle-shaped viruses 1 and 2 (STSV1 and STSV2) are regarded to belong to this family also.[4]
| Bicaudavirus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bicaudavirus | |
Virus classification  | |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Family: | Bicaudaviridae |
| Genus: | Bicaudavirus |
| Species | |
| |
Structure
Viruses in Bicaudaviridae are non-enveloped, with lemon-shaped geometries. Genomes are circular dsDNA molecules of around 48–76 kb in length. High-resolution structure was determined by cryo-EM for Sulfolobus monocaudavirus 1 (SMV1) and a lower-resolution structure was determined for Acidianus two-tailed virus (ATV).[5] Virions of both viruses have helical symmetry, with continuous 7-start helices, composed of the single major capsid protein, forming both the tails and the spindle-shaped body. The major capsid protein structure and virion organization of bicaudaviruses are similar to those of archaeal viruses from the families Fuselloviridae, Thaspiviridae, Halspiviridae and Clavaviridae.[5]
| Genus | Structure | Symmetry | Capsid | Genomic arrangement | Genomic segmentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bicaudavirus | Lemon-shaped | Helical (C7) | Non-enveloped | Circular | Monopartite |
Life cycle
Viral replication is cytoplasmic. Entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral proteins to host receptors. DNA-templated transcription is the method of transcription. Diverse species of hyperthermophilic archaea from the order Sulfolobales serve as the natural hosts. Transmission routes are passive diffusion.[2] It has been demonstrated that certain members of the family, namely, STSV2 and Sulfolobus monocaudavirus 1 (SMV1), induce cell gigantism by blocking the expression of the cell division genes and arresting the cell cycle in the S phase.[6] The diameter of infected cells increases up to 20 times, resulting in 8,000-fold increase in volume compared to noninfected cells.[6]
| Genus | Host details | Tissue tropism | Entry details | Release details | Replication site | Assembly site | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bicaudavirus | Archea: acidianus | None | Injection | Budding | Cytoplasm | Cytoplasm | Passive diffusion |
History
This family was first described by the team led by D. Prangishvili in 2005.[7][8]
The name is derived from the Latin word 'bi' and 'cauda' meaning 'two-tail'.
References
External links
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