Prasinovirus
Prasinovirus is a genus of large double-stranded DNA viruses, in the family Phycodnaviridae that infect phytoplankton in the Prasinophyceae. The genus contains two species, including Micromonas pusilla virus SP1, which infects the cosmopolitan photosynthetic flagellate Micromonas pusilla.
There is a large group of genetically diverse but related viruses that show considerable evidence of lateral gene transfer.
Taxonomy
The genus contains the following species, listed by scientific name and followed by the exemplar virus of the species:- Prasinovirus micromonas, Micromonas pusilla virus SP1
- Prasinovirus ostreotauri, Ostreococcus tauri virus OtV5
Structure
| Genus | Structure | Symmetry | Capsid | Genomic arrangement | Genomic segmentation |
| Prasinovirus | Icosahedral | T=169 | Enveloped | Linear | Monopartite |
Life cycle
Viral replication is nucleo-cytoplasmic. Replication follows the DNA strand displacement model. DNA templated transcription is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by lysis via lytic phospholipids. Alga serve as the natural host. Transmission routes are passive diffusion.| Genus | Host details | Tissue tropism | Entry details | Release details | Replication site | Assembly site | Transmission |
| Prasinovirus | Alga | - | Cell receptor endocytosis | Lysis | Nucleus | Cytoplasm | Passive diffusion |