Split into three subfamilies

Alpha - latency in neurons

Beta - latency in glands kidneys

Gamma - latency in lymphoid tissue

common characteristics include mode of replication, virion morphology, capacity to establish latent infections.

four parts in descending order:

-the envelope

-the tegument

-the capsid

-the core (w/ ds DNA)

-derived from the inner nuclear membrane of the host cell

-contains viral glycoproteins embedded w/i it

-envelope lipoproteins are sensitive to detergent and lipid solvents

occurs in three phases:

immediate early proteins (alpha) - regulate viral replication

early proteins (beta) - synthesize and package DNA

late proteins (gamma) - virion proteins for capsid formation