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.