Virions consist of an envelope, a core, and an internal lipid membrane associated with the inner particle. Virion can be bacilliform, ovoidal or allantoid in shape, mesuring about 130 nm in diameter, by 200-400 nm in length. Contains at least 15 different proteins.
Circular, dsDNA genome of 156-186 kb. The genome contains two tandem of inverted repeats.
Encode for up to 180 open reading frames.
- Attachment of the viral proteins to host receptors mediates endocytosis of the virus into the host cell.
- Fusion with the plasma membrane occurs; and the viral DNA is released into the nucleus.
- Transcription of viral genes, replication of the DNA genome in the nucleus.
- Cell nucleus enlarges and ruptures.
- Assembly of new virions in the cytoplasm.
- Host cell is cleaved in cluster of virion-containing vesicles.