Family: Pleolipoviridae

Genus: Betapleolipovirus

Distinguishing features

The circular double-stranded DNA genomes of betapleolipoviruses contain single-stranded discontinuities (Senčilo et al., 2012). The viruses have two ORFs encoding proteins with unknown function (e.g. Halorubrum pleomorphic virus 3 ORFs 6 and 9, see Figure 1.Pleolipoviridae), which are not found in the genomes of members of the other genera. 

Virion

Proteins

Virions contain two or three major structural proteins: one or two types of internal membrane protein (e.g. Halorubrum pleomorphic virus 3 (HRPV-3) VP1 proteins; Halogeometricum pleomorphic virus 1 (HGPV-1) proteins VP2 and VP3), and a spike protein (e.g. HRPV-3 VP2 protein) (Pietilä et al., 2012). The spike protein VP4 of HGPV-1 contains a lipid modification (Pietilä et al., 2012).

Species demarcation criteria

Viruses with genomes that differ by more than 5% are assigned to different species.

See also the genus demarcation criteria at the family level.