ICTV Report

Family: Alternaviridae (Interim Report)

This is a summary page created by the ICTV Report Editors using information from associated Taxonomic Proposals and the Master Species List.

Edited by: Sead Sabanadzovic
Posted: February 2025

Summary

The family Alternaviridae includes double stranded (ds) RNA viruses of fungi (Table 1 Alternaviridae). The genome is composed of 3-4 molecules of dsRNA of 8.4 to 10.7 kbp, encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), capsid protein, and protein(s) of unknown function. The family Alternaviridae was established in 2023 (Master Species List #38).

Table 1 Alternaviridae. Characteristics of members of the family Alternaviridae.

CharacteristicDescription
ExampleAlternaria alternata virus 1 (dsRNA 1: AB368492; dsRNA 2: AB438027; dsRNA 3: AB438028; dsRNA 4: AB438029), species Alternavirus alternariae, genus Alternavirus
VirionIsometric , 33 nm in diameter
GenomedsRNA, multipartite, polyadenylated, probably capped (Figure 1 Alternaviridae)
ReplicationNot known
TranslationNot known
Host rangeFungi, ascomycetes
TaxonomyRealm Riboviria, kingdom Orthornavirae, phylum Duplornaviricota, class Chrymotiviricetes, order Ghabrivirales: one genus and five species (Figure 2 Alternaviridae)
Alternaviridae genome
Figure 1 Alternaviridae. Genome organisation of Alternaria alternata virus 1, a member of the family Alternaviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accessions AB368492, AB438027, AB438028 and AB438029. A black circle indicates a potential 5′-terminal cap structure; A indicates a 3′-terminal poly(A) region.
Alternaviridae taxonomy
Figure 2 Alternaviridae. Taxonomy of the family Alternaviridae.

Derivation of names

Alternaviridae, Alternavirus: from Alternaria alternata, the name of the original fungal host, and RNA for ribonucleic acid, referring to the type of nucleic acid comprising the genome of viruses in the family; the suffix -viridae for family taxa