Ribozyviria is a
realm of
satellite nucleic acids — infectious agents that resemble
viruses, but cannot replicate without a
helper virus.[1] Established in
ICTV TaxoProp 2020.012D, the realm is named after the presence of genomic and antigenomic
ribozymes of the Deltavirus type. The agents in Ribozyviria are satellite
nucleic acids, which are distinct from satellite viruses in that they do not encode all of their own structural proteins but require proteins from their helper viruses in order to assemble.[2] Additional common features include a rod-like structure, an RNA-binding "delta antigen" encoded in the genome, and animal hosts.[3] Furthermore, the size range of the genomes of these viruses is between around 1547–1735nt, they encode a
hammerhead ribozyme or a
hepatitis delta virus ribozyme, and their coding capacity only involves one conserved protein. Most lineages of this realm are poorly understood, the notable exception being the genus Deltavirus, comprising the causal agents of
hepatitis D in humans.[4]
The realm Ribozyviria has an unclear evolutionary origin. It has been proposed that they may have derived from
retrozymes (a family of
retrotransposons) or a viroid-like element (i.e.
viroids and
satellites) with capsid protein capture.[4][5]
Taxonomy
Historical development
The first
taxa of this realm to receive acceptance by the ICTV is the species Hepatitis delta virus and its genus Deltavirus, in 1993. Deltavirus remained unassigned to any higher taxa until 2018, when the ICTV mistakenly classified Deltavirus within the then newly established realm, Riboviria. In 2019, this error was rectified and Deltavirus returned to its original position. In 2020, Hepatitis delta virus was abolished and replaced with eight new species, and the taxonomy developed to reach its current form, detailed below.[6]
Current status
Ribozyviria contains a single family, Kolmioviridae, with no intermediate taxa between realm and family. This family contains eight genera.
The names of all genera in this realm allude to
the letter D in various languages. The family name comes from
Finnishkolmio "triangle," another reference to
the Greek letter "Δ" (delta).[3]