Morphology
Lipothrixvirus SIFV (Sulfolobus islandicus filamentous virus) is a double-stranded DNA virus that parasitizes members of the order sulfolobales. As the name would suggest, it is morphologically filamentous and it's genome is linear[8], protected by a helical capsid (see images)[9][31]. Viruses of this form exclusively infect the phylum Crenarchaeota, and are put into the families Lipthrixviridae (fat + thread) and Rudiviridae (small + rod)[31]. Genomic evidence also suggests an evolutionary link between the two families[31].
Infection/Replication
Since it's hosts live in extremely harsh conditions (see S. solfataricus entry), Lipothrixvirus does not regularly lyse the cells it infects. Instead it uses them to escape prolonged exposure to the infernal environment, by incorporating its DNA into the archaeal chromosome to be copied[6][9][10].
Right: Lysogenic cycle
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References
[6]https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Sulfolobus
[8]http://viralzone.expasy.org/all_by_protein/265.html
[9]Prangishvili, D., & Garrett, R. (2004). Exceptionally diverse morphotypes and genomes of crenarchaeal hyperthermophilic viruses. Biochemical Society Transactions, 32(Pt 2), 204-208.
[10]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysogenic_cycle
[31]Prangishvili, D., Krupovic, M. (2012). A new proposed taxon for double-stranded DNA viruses, the order “Ligamenvirales”. Archives of Virology, 157(4), 791-795.
[8]http://viralzone.expasy.org/all_by_protein/265.html
[9]Prangishvili, D., & Garrett, R. (2004). Exceptionally diverse morphotypes and genomes of crenarchaeal hyperthermophilic viruses. Biochemical Society Transactions, 32(Pt 2), 204-208.
[10]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysogenic_cycle
[31]Prangishvili, D., Krupovic, M. (2012). A new proposed taxon for double-stranded DNA viruses, the order “Ligamenvirales”. Archives of Virology, 157(4), 791-795.