Family: Kirkoviridae (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: Arvind Varsani
Posted: December 2024
Summary
The family Kirkoviridae includes ssDNA(+/-) viruses of vertebrates (Table 1 Kirkoviridae). The family Kirkoviridae was established in 2024 (Master Species List #39).
Table 1 Kirkoviridae. Characteristics of members of the family Kirkoviridae.
| Characteristic | Description |
| Example | po-circo-like virus 21 (JF713716), species Aglavirus caranthi, genus Aglavirus |
| Virion | Unknown |
| Genome | Circular ssDNA(+/-), 2.8–4.3 kb (Figure 1 Kirkoviridae) |
| Replication | Rolling-circle, SF3 helicase |
| Translation | Unknown |
| Host range | Vertebrates |
| Taxonomy | Realm Monodnaviria, kingdom Shotokuvirae, phylum Cressdnaviricota, class Arfiviricetes, order Rohanvirales: 10 genera, 12 species (Figure 2 Kirkoviridae) |
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| Figure 1 Kirkoviridae. Genome organisation of po-circo-like virus 21, a member of the family Kirkoviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accession JF713716. |
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| Figure 2 Kirkoviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Kirkoviridae. |
Derivation of names
(genus names are derived from people and place names in the Middle-earth novels of J.R. Tolkein)
Aglavirus: after Aglarond, the Glittering Cavern of Helm's Deep
Denevirus: after Denethor, the leader of the Nanorin Elves in Ossiriland
Edravirus: after Edrahil, the Chief of the Elves of Nargothrond
Halavirus: after Haladin, the People of Haleth
Irmovirus: after Irmo, the Vala usually named Lórien, his dwelling place; Irmo means “Desirer” or “Master of Desire”
Kirkoviridae: derivation obscure; possibly replacement of the letter “c” with “k” in the family name Circoviridae to reflect the close relationship with viruses in that family; the suffix viridae for family taxa.
Luinilvirus: after Luinil, the name of a bright blue star
Melianvirus: after Melian, a Maia who left Valinor and came to Middle-earth
Nessavirus: after Nessa, one of the Valier, the sister of Oromë
Ossirvirus: after Ossir, Queen of King Thingol in Doriath
Yavannavirus: after Yavanna, also known as “The giver of fruits”; one of the Valier