Siphoviridae

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Siphoviridae
Virus classification
Group: Group I (dsDNA)
Order: Caudovirales
Family: Siphoviridae
Genera

λ-like viruses
T1-like viruses
T5-like viruses
c2-like viruses
L5-like viruses
ψM1-like viruses
φC31-like viruses
N15-like viruses

Siphoviridae are a family of double-stranded DNA viruses infecting only bacteria that are characterized by a long non-contractile tail and an isometric capsid (morphotype B1) or a prolate capsid (morphotype B2).

The Siphoviridae viruses have a capsid with a diameter of about 55-60 nm and a long tail that can reach up to 570 nm. Their double-stranded DNA is linear. This family includes the phage λ, the phage χ and the phage φ80.

The following genera are included here:

  • Genus λ-like viruses; type species: Enterobacteria phage λ
  • Genus T1-like viruses; type species: Enterobacteria phage T1
  • Genus T5-like viruses; type species: Enterobacteria phage T5
  • Genus c2-like viruses; type species: Lactococcus phage c2
  • Genus L5-like viruses; type species: Mycobacterium phage L5
  • Genus ψM1-like viruses; type species: Methanobacterium ψM1
  • Genus φC31-like viruses; type species: Streptomyces phage φC31
  • Genus N15-like viruses; type species: Enterobacteria phage N15
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