VIRUSES OF -PLANT

ANIMAL AND
BACTERIOPHAGE
INTRODUCTION:

 Viruses are non biological entities.

 A single type of nucleic acid surrounded by a

protein coat called the capsid because limited and
simplistic structures.

 They are devoid of the sophisticated enzymatic .

 Biosynthetic machinery essential for independent

activities of cellular life.
CHARACTERISTICS OF VIRUSES:

 They are ultra microscopic and can only be visualized

with the electron microscope.

 They are filterable are able to pass through bacteria –

retaining filters.

 They do not increase in size.

 They must replicate with in a susceptible cell.

 STRUCTURE OF VIRUSES:

 Viruses are smaller than bacteria,the smallest virus

is 10 nm in diameter .(eg : parvo virus)

 The largest virus is about 250nm.

 The shape of virus varies (Rod

shaped ,spherical ,oval,irregular)

 The Virus two Major components name protein

coat- capsid and a core made up of nucleic acid.
 PLANT VIRUS (TMV):

 It causes a diseases called tobacco mosaic in tobacco plants.

 The (TMV) is a RNA virus ,helical virus , and rod shaped.
 The(TMV) is made up of two components .
A. Outer capsid B. Inner RNA molecule.
 The capsid is outer coat is formed of protein.the Capsid is
made up of small subunits called capsomeres.
 The capsomeres are helically arranged around the RNA.there
are about 129 complete spirals.
 ANIMAL VIRUS ( ADENOVIRUS):

 Adenovirus infects eye and alimentary canal.

 It is a non- enveloped and polyhedral virus.
 The capsomeres are arranged in the form of 20
triangular facets and 12 vertices.
 The adenovirus has cubical symmetry.this symmetry
provided by the capsid.
 Many sided symmetry called polyhedron. The special
shape called icosahedron.
BACTERIOPHAGE:

 Bacteriophage means bacteria eating agent ,it was first described by Twort
in 1915.
 The common bacteriaphage is T4 bacteriophage, it is parasitic on
human(colon bacteria, Escherichia coli).
 The T4 phage is tadpole- shaped. It consists three parts a.head b.neck c.tail.
 The head is polyhedral it is covered by a protein coat called capsid.
 A double stranted DNA is present inside the head ,the DNA is highly coiled
tightly packed, it contains more than 75 genes.
 The neck is very short and it contains collar.
 The tail consists of a central hollow core tube.

 The core tube is covered by a sheath made up of

about 144 protein contractile subunits.

 The end of the core tube has a hexagonal end plate.

 The end plate has 6 spikes and 6 fibers .

 The spikes are used for penetration and the fibers

are used attachment on the host.