Family: Picornaviridae

Genus: Livupivirus

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 (Pankovics et al., 2017b): c. 7,770 nt (5′–UTR: 610 nt; ORF: 7,062 nt; 3′–UTR: 96 nt). 5′–UTR contains a type IV IRES. The location of the cre has not been identified. 

Genome organization and replication

Genome layout:

VPg+5′-UTR^IRES-IV- [L-1AB-1C-1D/2A^H-box/NC-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR

The deduced polyprotein is of 2,354 aa. 1AB remains uncleaved. The 2A protein has an H-box/NC motif. 

Biology

No virus has been isolated. Viral RNA was detected in faecal specimens of apparently healthy smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris). 

Derivation of names

Livupivirus: derived from Lissotriton vulgaris (host) picornavirus

Species demarcation criteria

There is only a single species in the genus.