Amesuviridae: a new family of plant-infecting viruses in the phylum Cressdnaviricota, realm Monodnaviria

AbstractThe phylumCressdnaviricota comprises viruses with single-stranded, circular DNA genomes that encode an HUH-type endonuclease (known as Rep). The phylum includes two classes, eight orders, and 11 families. Here, we report the creation of a twelfth family in the orderMulpavirales, classArfiviricetes of the phylumCressdnaviricota. The familyAmesuviridae comprises viruses that infect plants and is divided into two genera:Temfrudevirus, including the speciesTemfrudevirus temperatum (with temperate fruit decay-associated virus as a member), andYermavirus, including the speciesYermavirus ilicis (with yerba mate-associated circular DNA virus as a member). Both viruses encode Rep proteins with HUH endonuclease and SH3 superfamily helicase domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the replicative module of amesuviruses constitutes a well-supported monophyletic clade related to Rep proteins from viruses in the orderMulpavirales. Furthermore, both viruses encode a single capsid protein (CP) related to geminivirus CPs. Phylogenetic incongruence between the replicative and structural modules of amesuviruses suggests a chimeric origin resulting from remote recombination events between ancestral mulpavirales and geminivirids. The creation of the familyAmesuviridae has been ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

Source: Archives of Virology - August 10, 2023 Category: Virology Source Type: research