Family: Nipumfusiviridae

Genus: Baiafusivirus

Distinguishing features

The genus Baiafusivirus (family: Nipumfusiviridae) includes two species (Baiafusivirus chesapeakense and Baiafusivirus delawarense). Viruses belonging to these species have all been detected via metagenomic analysis of brackish bay waters. This environmental distribution implies possible host relationships with bay-dwelling Nitrosopumilaceae archaea. Viruses within the genus must exhibit ≥50% mean amino acid identity when compared across all pairwise orthologs with established members of the genus. The major capsid protein and ATPase must be conserved in viruses assigned to this genus.

Demarcation criteria for taxa within the genus

To be classified as a distinct species, a novel virus should show ≤95% average nucleotide identity in pairwise comparisons with members of established species within the genus.