Family: Dicistroviridae

Genus: Aparavirus

Distinguishing features

Unique characteristics of the intergenic untranslated region (IGR) internal ribsome entry site (IRES) distinguish this genus. The aparavirus IGR IRES is classified as Type II and possesses an extra stem loop in Pseudoknot I that is absent in the Type I IGR IRES found in the cripaviruses and triatoviruses.  Additionally, stem loop 2 of the Type II IGR IRES is shorter than in Type I. The insect-infecting members of genus Aparavirus have an additional, short ORF that overlaps the 5′-end of the structural polyprotein ORF in the +1 reading frame. High divergence between the insect-infecting and crustacean-infecting members will likely result in revision of this genus. 

Virion

See discussion under family description. 

Genome organization and replication

See discussion under family description. 

Biology

See discussion under family description. 

Derivation of names

Apara: derived from the name of the type species of the genus, Acute bee paralysis virus. 

Species demarcation criteria

Sequence identity at the amino acid level between the capsid proteins of isolates and strains of a species is above 90%. 

Related, unclassified viruses

Virus names and virus abbreviations are not official ICTV designations.