Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Oscivirus
Distinguishing features
The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters.
Virion
Morphology
No details are available on the morphology of virions.
Nucleic acid
Genome (Woo et al., 2010): c. 7,640–7,678 nt (5′-UTR: 636–646 nt; ORF: 6,765–6,774 nt; 3′-UTR: 238–256 nt). The location of the cre has not been identified.
Genome organization and replication
Genome layout:
VPg+5′-UTRIRES-V-[L-1AB-1C-1D/2A-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR-poly(A)
The deduced polyprotein is of 2,255–2,258 aa. The genome encodes an L protein of unknown function. 1AB remains uncleaved (with myristoylation signal). The 2A protein has unknown function.
Biology
No virus has been isolated. Viral RNA was detected in faeces of the oriental magpie robin (Copsychus saularis) and the grey-backed thrush (Turdus hortulorum). Two genetic types are distinguished by means of phylogenetic analysis.
Derivation of names
Oscivirus-: from Oscines (songbirds) from the Latin oscen, 'a songbird'
Species demarcation criteria
There is only a single species in the genus.