Project name: Polydnaviridae

Description: Description of Polydnaviridae adapted from ICTVdb Virion Properties Morphology Virions consist of an envelope and a nucleocapsid. Virus capsid is enveloped by a double layer envelope. The inner envelope appears to be assembled de novo within the nucleus of infected calyx cells, while the outer is acquired by budding through the plasma membrane into the oviduct lumen). Virions are surrounded by a loose ellipsoid to drop-shaped (envelope). The envelope surrounds one nucleocapsid, or one nucleocapsid to twelve nucleocapsids in groups. Nucleocapsid is elongated, but a specific structure has not been revealed. The nucleocapsid is fusiform (prolate ellipsoid), or cylindrical with a length of 30-150 nm, or 330 nm; width of 40 nm, or 85 nm. Nucleic Acid The genome is segmented; multipartite and segments are distributed over several particles of varying size, depending on the length of the genome enclosed, linear, supercoiled, double-stranded DNA. Virions may also contain homologous DNA sequences that are shared among two or more DNA genome segments. The complete genome is 2000-28000(-300000) nucleotides long. Each virion contains multiple copies of the genome. Proteins The viral genome encodes structural proteins. Lipids Lipids are present. The composition of viral lipids is not known.

Last updated: 2006-10-10