Tequatrovirus is a genus of viruses in subfamily Tevenvirinae of family Straboviridae.[1] Gram-negative bacteria serve as the natural host, with transmission achieved through passive diffusion. There are 84 species in this genus.[1]
The following species are assigned to the genus:
Tequatrovirus species are nonenveloped, with a head and tail. The head is a prolate spheroid approximately 120 nm in length and 86 nm in width, with an elongated icosahedral symmetry (T=13, Q=21) composed of 152 total capsomers. The tail has six long terminal fibers, six short spikes, and a small base plate. The tail is enclosed in a sheath, which loosens and slides around the tail core upon contraction.[2]
| Genus | Structure | Symmetry ! | Capsid | Genomic arrangement | Genomic segmentation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tequatrovirus | Head-Tail | T=13 Q=21 | Non-enveloped | Linear | Monopartite |
Genomes are linear, around 169kb in length. The genome codes for 300 proteins.[2] Some species have been fully sequenced and are available from ICTV. They range between 159k and 235k nucleotides, with 242 to 292 proteins. The complete genomes are available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, along with the complete genomes for dozens of other similar, unclassified virus strains.[3]
Viral replication is cytoplasmic. The virus attaches to the host cell using its terminal fibers, and uses viral exolysin to degrade the cell wall enough to eject the viral DNA into the host cytoplasm via contraction of its tail sheath. DNA-templated transcription is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by lysis, and holin/endolysin/spanin proteins. Once the viral genes have been replicated, the procapsid is assembled and packed. The tail is then assembled and the mature virions are released via lysis. Gram-negative bacteria serve as the natural host. Transmission routes are passive diffusion.
The ICTV's first report (1971) included the genus T-even phages, unassigned to an order, family, or subfamily.[4] The genus was renamed in 1976 to T-even phage group, moved into the newly created family Myoviridae in 1981. In 1993, it was renamed again to T4-like phages, and was moved into the newly created order Caudovirales in 1998. The next year (1999), it was renamed to T4-like viruses. Once more, the genus was moved into the newly created subfamily Tevenvirinae in 2010-11, renamed to T4likevirus in 2012, and renamed again to T4virus in 2015. In 2021, the subfamily Tevenvirinae was moved to the new family Straboviridae.[4]