Family: Inoviridae

Genus: Lineavirus

Distinguishing features

Phages in this genus possess genomes of about 6.8 kb (41−43% G+C) and encode 9−10 proteins. Virions are 900–1,000 × 6 nm and are able to infect enterobacteria that carry the Inc2-type plasmid (both Salmonella phage IKe and Escherichia phage I22), and in the case of Salmonella phage IKe, bacteria carrying the IncN and IncP-1 plasmids (Peeters et al., 1985, Stassen et al., 1992). The prophage state is not confirmed and these phages lack genes for integration into the host genome. 

Virion

See discussion under family description. 

Genome organisation and replication

See discussion under family description. 

Biology

Members of the genus infect bacteria from the genera Escherichia and Salmonella. 

Species demarcation criteria

Members of different species are >5% different in the DNA sequence of their genomes as assessed using the BLASTn algorithm.