Taxonomic update for giant viruses in the order Imitervirales (phylum Nucleocytoviricota)

AbstractLarge DNA viruses in the phylumNucleocytoviricota, sometimes referred to as “giant viruses” owing to their large genomes and virions, have been the subject of burgeoning interest over the last decade. Here, we describe recently adopted taxonomic updates for giant viruses within the orderImitervirales. The familiesAllomimiviridae,Mesomimiviridae, andSchizomimiviridae have been created to accommodate the increasing diversity of mimivirus relatives that have sometimes been referred to in the literature as “extendedMimiviridae”. In addition, the subfamiliesAliimimivirinae,Megamimivirinae, andKlosneuvirinae have been established to refer to subgroups of theMimiviridae. Binomial names have also been adopted for all recognized species in the order. For example, Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus is now classified in the speciesMimivirus bradfordmassiliense.

Source: Archives of Virology - October 31, 2023 Category: Virology Source Type: research