SAV 1, a temperate u.v.-inducible DNA virus-like particle from the archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius isolate B12

Abstract

Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, strain B12, which harbours a double‐stranded DNA species both as a plasmid and in a linear form, which is integrated at a specific site of the chromosome, produces virus‐like particles upon u.v. irradiation. These particles contain the same circular DNA and a number of coat proteins and are probably surrounded by a lipid membrane. They are lemon shaped, 100 x 60 nm in size and carry tail structures at one pole. The host cell recovers and remains lysogenic after virus production. Though a large fraction of liberated particles is found attached to structures derived from the cells, neither adsorption nor infection of a number of Sulfolobus isolates has so far been observed.

Phage Community Dynamics in Hot Springs

“…Despite their potential importance, very little is known about the influences of phages on the microbial communities in these ecosystems. Phage particles in hot springs have been observed by electron microscopy (40), and phages have been cultured on Bacteria and Archaea isolated from these ecosystems (4,8,17,35,39,45,46,(56)(57)(58). However, no effort has been made to determine the abundance or dynamics of naturally occurring phage communities or to quantify the effects of these phages on the microbial populations in extreme thermal environments.…”

Genetics and Potential Biotechnological Applications of Thermophilic and Extremely Thermophilic Microorganisms

“…Str/fo/obus and Halobacteria. A plasmid reported from Sidfoiobus (Yeats, McWilliam and Zillig, 1982) subsequently was found to be a bacterial virus (SAV1) that appeared to be present in a prophage form, as it could be induced with ultraviolet light (Martin et al, 1984). Three different viruses have been found in one isolate of Thermoproteus tenax.…”

DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases of the Archaebacteria

“…Ultraviolet induction leads to strong amplification accompanied by the breakdown of the host genome. The plasmid proved to be the genome of a virus-like particle (Martin et al, 1984).…”