Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Pemapivirus
Distinguishing features
The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters.
Virion
Morphology
No details are available on the morphology of the virions.
Nucleic acid
Genome (Shi et al., 2018): c. 9,196 nt (5′-UTR: 668 nt; ORF: 8,235 nt; 3′-UTR: 293 nt). The location of the cre has not been identified.
Genome organization and replication
Genome layout:
VPg+5′-UTRIRES-[L-1AB-1C-1D/2AH-box/NC-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR-poly(A)
The deduced polyprotein is of 2,745 amino acids. There is an L protein with unknown function. The 1AB protein remains uncleaved. The 2A protein has an H-box/NC sequence motif.
Biology
No virus has been isolated. Viral RNA was detected in organ pools (gut, liver, lungs) of Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) and Chinese broad-headed pond turtles (Mauremys megalocephala).
Derivation of names
Pemapivirus: derived from Pelodiscus sinensis and Mauremys megalocephala (hosts) and picornavirus
Species demarcation criteria
There is only a single species in the genus.