Three-dimensional reconstruction of bacterial viruses from electron microscopy data. Bacteriophage structure

The structure of bacteriophages from different groups is presented based on the data obtained by the three-dimensional reconstruction, optical diffraction and filtration and electron microscopy techniques. The study made possible to suggest the scheme for the mechanism of sheath molecules rearrangement at contraction of bacteriophage tail sheath, the model of bacteriophage FI-1 connector. The structural elements for difference and relation of various bacteriophages are demonstrated.