Ophiovirus | |
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(top) Electron micrograph of Citrus psorosis ophiovirus; (bottom) Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus genome | |
Virus classification | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Riboviria |
Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
Phylum: | Negarnaviricota |
Class: | Milneviricetes |
Order: | Serpentovirales |
Family: | Aspiviridae |
Genus: | Ophiovirus |
Species | |
Aspiviridae, formerly Ophioviridae, is a family of segmented negative-strand RNA viruses which infect plants. Member viruses are characterized by an elongated and highly filamentous and flexible nucleocapsid with helical symmetry. [1] It is a monotypic taxon containing only one genus, Ophiovirus. [2] Aspiviridae is also the only family in the order Serpentovirales, which in turn is the only order in the class Milneviricetes. [3]
The name Aspiviridae derives from the Latin aspis ( snake or viper), referring to the shape, along with the suffix for a virus family -viridae. [4] Ophiovirus derives from the Ancient Greek ophis, "snake", with –virus the suffix for a virus genus. [5] Likewise, Serpentovirales is from " serpent" with -virales the suffix for a virus order. [4] Milneviricetes is in honor of Robert G. Milne, the last author on the first paper describing ophioviruses. [4] [6]
The protein capsid is non- enveloped and has a constant diameter of 1500–2500 nm and a width of 3 nm, or 9 nm. The capsids form kinked circles, which can collapse to form linear duplex structures, much like a spring. [3]
Member viruses have segmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genomes. The entire genome is 11000–12000 nucleotides long. [3] [7]
The family has one genus, Ophiovirus, which has seven recognized species. Members of both the family and the genus are referred to as ophioviruses. [3]