Family: Pyrstoviridae (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 Pyrstoviridae includes dsDNA viruses that infect hyperhalophilic archaea in the genus Haloarcula (Table 1.Pyrstoviridae). The family Pyrstoviridae was established in 2022 (Master Species List 37).

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

CharacteristicDescription
ExampleHaloarcula tailed virus 3 (MZ334527), species Hatrivirus HATV3, genus Hatrivirus
VirionIcosahedral capsid and long contractile tail (siphovirus morphology)
GenomeLinear, dsDNA genome of 42 kbp, circularly permuted
Host rangehyperhalophilic archaea of Haloarcula sp.
TaxonomyRealm Duplodnaviria, kingdom Heunggongvirae, phylum Uroviricota, class Caudoviricetes, order Kirjokansivirales: 1 genus and 1 species
Pyrstoviridae genome
Figure 1.Pyrstoviridae. Genome organisation of Haloarcula tailed virus 3, a member of the family Pyrstoviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accession MZ334527.
Pyrstoviridae taxonomy
Figure 2.Pyrstoviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Pyrstoviridae.

Derivation of name

Pyrstoviridae: From the Finnish word pyrstö, meaning fish tail.