Bacteria serve as natural hosts, with transmission achieved through passive diffusion.

[1][2][3] The following six species are assigned to the genus:[2] Lederbergviruses are nonenveloped, with a head and tail.

Complete genomes, as well as several similar unclassified strains are available from [1][3] Viral replication is cytoplasmic.

[1] According to ICTV's 1996 report, the genus P22likevirus was first accepted under the name P22-like phages, assigned only to family Podoviridae.

The whole family was moved to the newly created order Caudovirales in 1998, and the genus was renamed to P22-like viruses in ICTV's seventh report in 1999.