Question

The correct match for this T${}_2$ bacteriophage is

• A. A- Capsid, B- Nucleoid, C- Tail fibres, D- Tail sheath
• B. A- Capsid, B- RNA, C- Tail fibres, D- Tail sheath
• C. A- Capsid, B- DNA, C- Neck, D- Tail fibres
• D. A- Capsid, B- DNA/RNA, C- Peplomers, D- Tail fibres

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

A- Capsid, B- DNA, C- Neck, D- Tail fibres

Most bacteriophages present an icosahedral proteinaceous head, which contains the nucleic acid, either deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA). Exceptions to this rule are few cases, where a lipid envelope forms part of the head and those other cases where the head presents a filamentous geometry. The way bacteriophages infect the host cell is the basis of the main difference between them: one group (Caudovirales) has a specialized structure (the tail) that is responsible for the recognition of the host cell and the viral genome delivery, whereas those bacteriophages without tail present a variety of infecting strategies. The tail also contains tail fibres. Thus, the correct answer is option C.