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