Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Aquamavirus
Distinguishing features
The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters.
Virion
Morphology
No details are available on the morphology of virions.
Physicochemical and physical properties
No details are available on physicochemical and physical properties.
Nucleic acid
Genome (Kapoor et al., 2008b): c. 6,700 nt (5′-UTR: 506 nt, ORF: 6,154 nt, 3′-UTR: 34 nt). The 5′-UTR contains a type IV IRES. The location of the cre has not been identified.
Genome organization and replication
Genome layout:
VPg+5′-UTRIRES-IVB-[1AB-1C-1D-2A1npgp/2A2-2B-2C/3A-3B1-3B2-3C-3D]-3′-UTR-poly(A)
The deduced polyprotein is of 2,050 amino acids. There is no L protein. The 1AB protein remains uncleaved; 2A1 is a short FMDV-like polypeptide (NPG↓P) while the 2A2 protein has an unknown function. Two copies of 3B are predicted to be present.
Biology
No virus has been isolated. Known natural hosts are pinnipeds (Phoca vitulina, Pusa hispida) and black bears (Ursus thibetanus). Affected animals are apparently healthy. Two types are distinguished by means of phylogenetic analysis.
Derivation of names
Aquamavirus: from aquatic mammal
Species demarcation criteria
There is only a single species in the genus.