Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Aalivirus
Distinguishing features
The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters. The known aaliviruses have an unusual 3-8-4 genome layout (see below).
Virion
Morphology
No details are available on the morphology of virions.
Nucleic acid
Genome (Wang et al., 2014): 8,958 nt (5′-UTR: 604 nt; ORF: 8,040 nt; 3′-UTR: 314 nt). The location of the cre has not been identified.
Genome organization and replication
Genome layout:
VPg+5′-UTRIRES-IV-[1AB-1C-1D-2A1npgp/2A2npgp/2A3npgp/2A4npgp/2A5NTPase-2A6H-box/NC-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR-poly(A)
The deduced polyprotein is of 2,680 amino acids. There is no L protein. The 1AB protein remains uncleaved. There are six 2A proteins (four 2A proteins with an NPG↓P-motif, one 2A protein with an AIG1-type guanine nucleotide-binding domain (GxxGxGKS NTP-binding motif) and one 2A protein with an H-box/NC motif).
Biology
No virus has been isolated. Viral RNA was detected in the intestinal contents of diseased 4- to 5-week old Pekin ducks in China.
Derivation of names
Aalivirus-: from avihepatovirus/avisivirus-like virus
Species demarcation criteria
There is only a single species in the genus.