ICTV Report

Family: Druskaviridae (interim Report)

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

Edited by: Mart Krupovic
Posted: June 2023

Summary

The family Druskaviridae includes dsDNA viruses infecting hyperhalophilic archaea of Haloarcula sp. (Table 1.Druskaviridae). A characteristic feature of viruses in this family is that they encode the preQ0/G+ pathway responsible for the formation of 7-deazaguanine modification in the genomic DNA. The family Druskaviridae was established in 2022 (Master Species List 37).

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

CharacteristicDescription
ExampleHaloarcula vallismortis tailed virus 1 (KC117377), species Tredecimvirus HVTV1, genus Tredecimvirus
VirionIcosahedral head of approximately 85 nm diameter and long noncontractile flexible tail (siphovirus-like morphology).
GenomeLinear, dsDNA genome of 102–104 kbp, direct terminal repeats
Host rangeHyperhalophilic archaea of Haloarcula sp.
 Realm Duplodnaviria, kingdom Heunggongvirae, phylum Uroviricota, class Caudoviricetes, order Thumleimavirales: 2 genera and 2 species
Druskaviridae genome organisation
Figure 1.Druskaviridae. Genome organisation of Haloarcula californiae tailed virus 1, a member of the family Druskaviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accession KC117377.
Druskaviridae taxonomy
Figure 2.Druskaviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Druskaviridae.

Derivation of name

Druskaviridae: From Lithuanian druska, for salt