Bacilladnaviridae is a family of single-stranded DNA viruses that primarily infect diatoms.[1][2]
The genome of these viruses appears to be unique. It consists of a single molecule of covalently closed circular single stranded DNA of 4.5–6 kilobases as well as a segment of linear ssDNA of ~1 kilobase. The linear segment is complementary to a portion of the closed circle creating a partially double stranded region. There are at least three major open reading frames in the genome.
Similar to other eukaryotic ssDNA viruses, bacilladnaviruses are likely to replicate their genomes by the rolling-circle mechanism, initiated by the virus-encoded endonuclease (Rep). However, the latter protein of bacilladnaviruses displays unique conserved motifs and in phylogenetic trees forms a monophyletic clade separated from other groups of ssDNA viruses. The capsid protein of bacilladnaviruses has the jelly-roll fold and is most closely related to the corresponding proteins from members of the family Nodaviridae, which have ssRNA genomes.[3] [4]
The virions are about 34 nanometers (nm) in diameter and accumulate in the nucleus. Mature virions are released by lysis of the host cell.
The following genera are recognized:[5]
Bacilladnaviridae is a family of single-stranded DNA viruses that primarily infect diatoms.
