Recombination-dependent concatemeric viral DNA replication

► Recombination-dependent DNA replication (RDR) plays an essential role in the replication cycle of many dsDNA viruses. ► Many recombination proteins are present and conserved in dsDNA viruses. ► RDR provides the means to generate linear concatemeric viral DNA. ► The molecular mechanisms of RDR depend on the nature (circular or linear) of the dsDNA molecule. ► RDR is involved in spread of antibiotic resistance and transfer of pathogenicity islands.