Helical virus
from class: Microbiology Definition A helical virus is a type of virus whose capsid (protein shell) is shaped in a rod-like, spiral structure. This shape allows the viral nucleic acid to be tightly wound inside the protein coat.
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Predict what's on your test 5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test Helical viruses can infect both plants and animals. The Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) is a well-known example of a helical virus. These viruses have a single-stranded RNA or DNA genome. The capsid proteins of helical viruses self-assemble into a helical structure around the nucleic acid. They often exhibit symmetry, with the length of the helix determined by the length of the nucleic acid. Review Questions What distinguishes a helical virus from other types of viruses? Name an example of a helical virus and describe its host range. Explain how the capsid proteins assemble in helical viruses.
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