Bacillus virus phi29

Bacillus virus Φ29 (bacteriophage Φ29) is a <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">double-stranded DNA</a> (dsDNA) <a href="/facts/Bacteriophage/L2Ll0T3q">bacteriophage</a> with a <a href="/facts/Prolate/GJyyLxQ7">prolate</a> <a href="/facts/Icosahedron/wWbpnDYp">icosahedral</a> head and a short tail that belongs to the genus <a href="/facts/Salasvirus/tNat37SA">Salasvirus</a>, order <a href="/facts/Caudovirales/I1XkGeSK">Caudovirales</a>, and family Salasmaviridae. They are in the same order as phages PZA, Φ15, BS32, B103, M2Y (M2), Nf, and GA-1. First discovered in 1965, the Φ29 phage is the smallest <a href="/facts/Bacillus/RJNLPx5q">Bacillus</a> phage isolated to date and is among the smallest known dsDNA phages.
Φ29 has a unique DNA packaging motor structure that employs <a href="/facts/Bacteriophage_pRNA/0qWbFmbu">prohead packaging RNA</a> (pRNA) to guide the translocation of the phage <a href="/facts/Genome/tjhWET4V">genome</a> during <a href="/facts/Viral_replication/btE3fu1w">replication</a>. This novel structure system has inspired ongoing research in <a href="/facts/Nanotechnology/Co4FFNfY">nanotechnology</a>, <a href="/facts/Drug_delivery/vDfboXeT">drug delivery</a>, and <a href="/facts/Therapy/2ytkGbgT">therapeutics</a>.
In nature, the Φ29 phage infects <a href="/facts/Bacillus_subtilis/KA8AodsE">Bacillus subtilis</a>, a species of <a href="/facts/Gram-positive_bacteria/H6WYQ17e">gram-positive</a>, <a href="/facts/Endospore-forming_bacteria/UKWvt6Qu">endospore-forming bacteria</a> that is found in <a href="/facts/Soil/5Ddpr3QM">soil</a>, as well as the <a href="/facts/Gastrointestinal_tract/nK2zwqBS">gastrointestinal tracts</a> of various <a href="/facts/Marine_life/TF5MGzFb">marine</a> and <a href="/facts/Terrestrial_life/Ss6eB0EX">terrestrial organisms</a>, including <a href="/facts/Human_being/rlcTENsr">human beings</a>.

Bacillus virus phi29 open-in-new

Bacillus virus phi29