The virus attaches to the host cell's adhesion receptor FhuA using its terminal fibers, and ejects the viral DNA into the host cytoplasm via long flexible tail ejection system.

The tail is then assembled and the mature virions are released via lysis, and holin/endolysin/spanin proteins.

[1] According to ICTV's 1996 report, the genus Tunalikevirus was first accepted under the name T1-like phages, assigned only to family Siphoviridae.

The whole family was moved to order Caudovirales in 1998, and the genus was renamed to T1-like viruses in ICTV's 7th Report in 1999.

[4] The genus was later renamed to Tunavirus and placed in the newly established family Drexlerviridae.