Family: Lipothrixviridae (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: Mart Krupovic
Posted: April 2023
Summary
The family Lipothrixviridae includes double-stranded DNA viruses infecting hyperthermophilic archaea of the order Sulfolobales (Table 1 Lipothrixviridae). The family was established in 1987 (as the family TTV1 group, MSL10), renamed in 1990 (MSL11) and assigned to the realm Adnaviria in 2021 (MSL 36).
Table 1 Lipothrixviridae. Characteristics of members of the family Lipothrixviridae.
Characteristic | Description |
Example | Sulfolobus islandicus filamentous virus (AF440571), species Sulfolobus islandicus filamentous virus, genus Betalipothrixvirus |
Virion | Filamentous, enveloped particle, nucleoprotein core with heterodimeric major capsid proteins |
Genome | Linear, double-stranded DNA genome of 31–40 kbp |
Replication | Cytoplasmic, lytic, virus is enveloped inside the cell and released through pyramidal portals |
Translation | Not studied |
Host range | Hyperthermophilic archaea of the order Sulfolobales |
Taxonomy | Realm Adnaviria, kingdom Zilligvirae, phylum Taleaviricota, class Tokiviricetes, order Ligamenvirales: 3 genera and 10 species |
Figure 1 Lipothrixviridae. Genome organisation of a member of the family Lipothrixviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on the GenBank accession AF440571. |
Figure 2 Lipothrixviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Lipothrixviridae. |
Derivation of name
Lipothrixviridae: from the Greek, lipothrix meaning "fat hair".