Subfamily: Comovirinae

Genus: Mersevirus

Distinguishing features

Similar to comovirins, cheraviruses, sadwaviruses, stralariviruses, and torradoviruses, the genome of merseviruses is bipartite. However, the RNA1 of merseviruses codes for a polyprotein that is proteolytically cleaved into six predicted proteins instead of the more conventional five proteins. The sixth protein located at the N-terminus of the polyprotein encoded by RNA1 codes a Ham1 domain with predicted inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase) activities.

Virion

See discussion under family description.

Genome organisation and replication

The genomic organisation of merseviruses is similar to that of other members of the family Secoviridae with a bipartite genome (Figure 3 Secoviridae). The replication block is present in the polyprotein encoded by RNA1, while two structural proteins are located at the C-terminal region of the polyprotein encoded by RNA2. A putative movement protein is upstream of the capsid protein (CP) domains. A distinguishing feature of the mersevirus genome is the presence of protein coding a Ham1 domain with predicted inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase) activities at the N-terminus of the polyprotein encoded by RNA1.

Biology

See discussion under family description.

Species demarcation criteria

See discussion under family description.