Family: Picornaviridae

Genus: Crahelivirus

Distinguishing features

The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters. 

Virion

Morphology

No details are available on the morphology of virions. 

Nucleic acid

Genome (S. Yang, Y. Wang, W. Zhang, unpublished): c. 7,443 nt (5′-UTR: 631 nt; ORF: 6,633 nt; 3′-UTR: 179 nt). The location of the cre has not been identified. 

Genome organization and replication

Genome layout:

VPg+5′-UTR^IRES-[1A-1B-1C-1D/2A-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR-poly(A)

The deduced polyprotein is of 2,211 amino acids. There is no L protein. 1A is very short (19 amino acids). The function of 2A is unknown. 

Biology

No virus has been isolated. Viral RNA was detected in faeces of red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis). 

Derivation of names

Crahelivirus: derived from crane (host) and hepato-like

Species demarcation criteria

There is only a single species in the genus.