ICTV Report

Family: Graaviviridae (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: June 2023

Summary

The family Graaviviridae includes dsDNA viruses with icosahedral capsids and long non-contractile tails. Graaviviruses infect hyperhalophilic archaea of Halorubrum sp. (Table 1.Graaviviridae). The family Graaviviridae was established in 2022 (Master Species List 37).

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

CharacteristicDescription
ExampleHalorubrum virus BJ1 (AM419438), species Beejeyvirus BJ1, genus Beejeyvirus
VirionIcosahedral capsid of 55 nm in diameter and helical non-contractile tail of 70 nm in length (siphovirus morphology)
GenomeLinear, dsDNA genome of 39–42 kbp
Host rangeHyperhalophilic archaea of Halorubrum sp.
TaxonomyRealm Duplodnaviria, kingdom Heunggongvirae, phylum Uroviricota, class Caudoviricetes, order Kirjokansivirales: 2 genera and 2 species
Graaviviridae genome
Figure 1.Graaviviridae. Genome organisation of Halorubrum virus BJ1, a member of the family Graaviviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accession AM419438.
Graaviviridae taxonomy
Figure 2.Graaviviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Graaviviridae.

Derivation of name

Graaviviridae: From Finnish graavi, meaning raw cooking of fish with salt