FIGURE 7.

Structural studies on bacteriophages using cryo-EM. (A) Schematic diagram of a long-tailed bacteriophage with its parts labeled. Structure of different parts of bacteriophages were solved either individually or partially together and a representative cryo-EM map is shown for each part: capsid (EMD-40228), portal protein (EMD-43145), collar and whiskers (EMD-5528), tail tube (EMD-29354), tail sheath (EMD-36127), base plate (EMD-8064), tail fiber (EMD-34968), tail pin (EMD-35824) in figure A (created with BioRender.com). (B) Phage infection initiation mechanism is shown with a schematic model. (C) DNA pre injection and post injection states are shown in short tailed (left, EMD-31315, 31318) and long-tailed phages (right, EMD-2774, 6082). (D) Close view of detailed structural changes during intermediate stages of long tail contraction (EMD-1089, 1086). (E) Cryo-EM map of trans envelope channel formation during short-tailed phage infection (EMD-9006). (F) Schematic diagram of various application of phages (created with BioRender.com).