viral process viral genome circularization VZ:3968 The circularization of a viral genome following infection of a host cell. This is common amongst bacterial viruses to protect the viral genome ends from nucleases, to convert the linear genome to an integrative precursor or to give rise to the replicative form of the genome. It can be mediated by covalent closure of the DNA sticky ends, recombinaison between redundant terminal sequences or via the binding of a protein at the viral DNA extremities. GO:0099009 biological_process