What is Unusual About the Virion of the Acidianus Two-Tailed

Question

What is unusual about the virion of the Acidianus two-tailed virus?
A) The virion contains two tails, one at each end of a lemon-shaped virion.
B) The two tails can be of different lengths.
C) The only requirement for tail production is temperatures above 75ᵒC.
D) The tails are elongated after the virion leaves the host cell.
E) All of the above are correct.

Accepted Answer

All of the statements in choices A, B, C, and D are correct. The Acidianus two-tailed virus is unique in that it has two tails of different lengths at either end of its lemon-shaped virion. Tail production only requires temperatures above 75ᵒC, which is much higher than the average temperature for most viruses. Additionally, the tails elongate after the virion leaves the host cell, making it distinct from other tail-containing viruses that have pre-formed tails.