Family: Astroviridae (interim)

This is a summary page created by the ICTV Report Editors using information from associated Taxonomic Proposals and the Master Species List.

Edited by: Jens H. Kuhn
Posted: November 2024

Summary

The family Astroviridae includes ssRNA(+) viruses that infect vertebrates (Table 1 Astroviridae). The family Astroviridae was established in 1995 (Master Species List #14).

Table 1 Astroviridae. Characteristics of members of the family Astroviridae.

Characteristic	Description
Example	mamastrovirus 1 (Z25771), species Mamastrovirus 1, genus Mamastrovirus
Virion	Spherical, non-enveloped, 28-30 nm in diameter with surface spikes
Genome	VpG-linked, positive-sense RNA of 6.4–7.7 kb terminating with poly A
Replication	Cytoplasmic in virus factories derived from the endoplasmic reticulum
Translation	From genomic RNA with frame-shifting for expression of the RNA-directed RNA polymerase. Subgenomic mRNA encodes capsid precursor protein
Host range	Birds (Avastroviridae) or mammals (Mamastroviridae)
Taxonomy	Realm Riboviria, kingdom Orthornavirae, phylum Pisuviricota, class Stelpaviricetes, order Stellavirales: 2 genera and 22 species

Figure 1 Astroviridae. Genome organisation of mamastrovirus 1, a member of the family Astroviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accession Z25771.

Figure 2 Astroviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Astroviridae.

Derivation of names

Astroviridae: from the Greek astron, meaning “star”, representing the star-like surface structure on virions.

Avastrovirus: from the Latin avis, meaning “bird”, representing avian host species and astrovirus.

Mamastrovirus: from the Latin mamma, meaning “breast”, representing mammalian host species and astrovirus.