DESCRIPTION OF VIRUSES

Family Rudiviridae

Genus Rudivirus

Genus Rudivirus

Type Species

Sulfolobus virus SIRV-1

(SIRV-1)

Virion Properties

Morphology

Virions are stiff rods, 23 500-780  nm.

Nucleic Acid

Genome is linear dsDNA, 33-36  kbp in size.

Proteins

At least 5 proteins identified.

Lipids

No lipid detectable.

Carbohydrates

None reported.

Biological Properties

Infects Archaea host cells (kingdom Crenarchaeota), Sulfolobus islandicus (Sulfolobus virus SIRV).

List of Species Demarcation Criteria in the Genuss

The two species in the genus Rudivirus differ in virion size, genome size, and host range.

List of Species in Genus

Official virus species names are in italics. Tentative virus species names, alternative names ( ), strains or serotypes are not italicized. Virus names and assigned abbreviations ( ) are:

Species in the Genus

Sulfolobus virus SIRV-1

(SIRV-1)

Sulfolobus virus SIRV-2

(SIRV-2)

Tentative Species in the Genus

Thermoproteus virus TTV4

(TTV4)

List of Unassigned Viruses in the Family

None reported.

Phylogenetic Relationships within the Family

None reported.

Similarity with Other Taxa

Rudiviridae and Lipothrixviridae species are rod-shaped virions containing linear dsDNA, infecting Archaea host cells in the kingdom Crenarchaeota. However, Rudiviridae viruses differ from Lipothrixviridae viruses in that virions of the former are stiff rods and do not contain lipids and virions of the latter are flexible filaments and contain lipids.

Derivation of Name

Rudi: from Latin “rudis”, “small rod”.