Prasinovirus

Prasinovirus is a genus of large double-stranded DNA viruses, in the family Phycodnaviridae that infect phytoplankton in the Prasinophyceae. There are currently only two species in this genus including the type species Micromonas pusilla virus SP1 , that infects the cosmopolitan photosynthetic flagellate Micromonas pusilla. However, there is a large group of genetically diverse but related viruses that show considerable evidence of lateral gene transfer. Group: dsDNA Viruses in Prasinovirus are enveloped, with icosahedral and Round geometries, and T=169 symmetry. The diameter is around 104-118 nm. Viral replication is nucleo-cytoplasmic. Replication follows the DNA strand displacement model. Dna templated transcription is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by lysis via lytic phospholipids.Alga serve as the natural host. Transmission routes are passive diffusion.