Biologists from the University of Massachusetts have discovered an unusual bacteriophage P74-26.The tail of this virus is 10 times
Unlike many viruses that infect humans andanimals that contain only genetic material, bacteriophages consist of a tail attached to a spiky prism-like protein shell containing DNA. Most phages have short microscopic tails, but P74-26's tail is almost 1 µm long.
Phage tails are important for puncturing bacteria,covered with a dense viscous substance. The long tail of P74-26 allows this virus to infect the most resistant bacteria. P74-26 is an extremely stable bacteriophage and can infect bacteria living in hot springs.
Illustration of a virus with a unique long tail. Images: Agnello et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry
Microscopic analysis showed that eachThe tail of a phage is made up of many small building blocks that assemble to form a long tube. These elements can change shape or conformation by interacting with each other. “This reshaping is important for the building blocks to fit together and form the correct tail tube structure,” the study authors note.
Bacteriophages represent one of the possiblealternatives to antibiotics to fight resistant microorganisms. Scientists believe that by studying the structure of these viruses, more effective treatments can be developed.
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