Virus-Like Particle derived from a Bacterium belonging to the Oldest Lineage of the Domain Bacteria.

Abstract

Aquificales, a thermophilic bacterium of the deepest-branching lineage of the domain Bacteria produced virus-like particles (VLPs). Mature VLPs resided in 6.5±4.4% (n=341) of bacterial cells. A count of the free particles in water from geothermal hot spring showed high abundance (1.41±1.70×107 VLP/ml, n=12). The molecular mass of the VLP-encapsulated DNA was 406.4±10.1 kb (n=13).