Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Malagasivirus
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 (Lim et al., 2015): 7,571–7,593 nt (5′–UTR: 818–869 nt; ORF: 6,618–6,702 nt; 3′–UTR: 116–157 nt). The location of the cre has not been identified.
Genome organization and replication
Genome layout:
VPg+5′-UTRIRES-[L-1A-1B-1C-1D-2Anpgp/2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR
The deduced polyprotein ranges from 2,206 to 2,234 aa. 2A is a short polypeptide with NPG↓P motif.
Biology
No virus has been isolated. Lesavirus 1 (Malagasivirus A) was detected in faecal specimens of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), whereas lesavirus 2 (Malagasivirus B) was prevalent in faeces of black-and-white ruffed lemurs.
Derivation of names
Malagasivirus refers to the Madagascan (Malagasy) origin of the two lemur species
Species demarcation criteria
Members of a species of genus Malagasivirus:
- share a common genome organization
- are less than 30% divergent in the polyprotein aa sequence
- are less than 30% divergent in the P1 aa sequence
- are less than 30% divergent in the 2C + 3CD aa sequence