Tail-tape-fused virion and non-virion RNA polymerases of a thermophilic virus with an extremely long tail.

Thermus thermophilus bacteriophage P23-45 encodes a giant 5,002-residue tail tape measure protein (TMP) that defines the length of its extraordinarily long tail. Here, we show that the N-terminal portion of P23-45 TMP is an unusual RNA polymerase (RNAP) homologous to cellular RNAPs. The TMP-fused virion RNAP transcribes pre-early phage genes, including a gene that encodes another, non-virion RNAP, that transcribes early and some middle phage genes.

Bacteriophages of the Order : What Do We Currently Know about This Keystone Component of the Human Gut Virome?

The order comprises dsDNA bacteriophages infecting bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes that are found in a variety of environments but are especially prevalent in the mammalian gut. This review summarises available information on the genomics, diversity, taxonomy, and ecology of this largely uncultured viral taxon. With experimental data available from a handful of cultured representatives, the review highlights key properties of virion morphology, infection, gene expression and replication processes, and phage-host dynamics.

[Identification regulatory noncoding RNAs of human papilloma virus type 16 (Papillomaviridae: Alphapapillomavirus: Human papillomavirus) in cervical tumors].

Introduction: High carcinogenic-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPVs) are recognized as etiological agents of cervical cancer. Constant expression of the viral oncoproteins, E6 and E7, is required for maintenance of the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. The exact mechanism of regulation of viral oncogenes expression in tumor cells is not fully elucidated.