MicrobeWorld

Cross-section through the center of a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of P22 phage, which is a virus that infects Salmonella bacteria. P22 contains many copies each of nine different viral proteins and a single copy of a double-stranded DNA genome (shown in green). The centrally located portal protein (red) is used by the virus to package its DNA into the viral particle during virus assembly, and later to inject the DNA into the bacterial cell at the start of infection. The 3D structure of the virus was determined using the methods of cryo-electron microscopy and computer-based image reconstruction.

From a paper in the journal Structure, "Peering Down the Barrel of a Bacteriophage Portal: The Genome Packaging and Release Valve in P22."

Jinghua Tang and Timothy Baker, University of California, San Diego