Question

Explain the structure of $T$- even bacteriophages

Answer 1

Viruses which attack bacteria are called Bacteriophages. They were first discovered by Twort.

• These are tad-pole shaped in appearance.
  
• They consist of head and tail.
  
• The upper hexagonal shaped part is Head.
  

• Outside, it is covered by a capsid.
  
• Inside the capsid, highly folded large dsDNA is present.
  
• The long tubular structure present below the head is called Tail.
  
• The place at which the head and tail are joined is called collar.
  
• Tail is outerly covered by a proteinaceous sheath called Tail sheath.
  
• Tail ends with tail plates.
  
• From each tail plate, a long thread like structures called Tail fibres are formed. They are meant for attachment of host.
• Alternate to the tail fibres, tail pins are present.
  
• Tail fibers and tail pins are 6 in number.