title: Adsorption, capping, and release of a complex bacteriophage by mycoplasma cells.
abstract: By electron microscopic studies, the adsorption and release of nonlytic, cytocidal mycoplasma virus MVL3, which infects ACholeplasma laidlawii cells, have been examined. The MVL3 virion has a polyhedral head, collar, short tail, and tail fibers and contains linear double-stranded DNA. Adsorbed MVL3 virus showed a temperature-dependent clustering or capping on the mycoplasma cell membrane. During infection, a number of virus-cell membrane-related structures were observed, suggesting a general model in which MVL3-infected cells release progeny virions in membrane vesicles. These vesicles must then break down to release MVL3 particles.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000128:Acholeplasma laidlawii / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014775:Virus Activation; D014780:Viruses / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*