ICTV Report

Family: Saparoviridae (interim Report)

 

This is a summary page created by the ICTV Report Editors using information from associated Taxonomic Proposals and the Master Species List.

Edited by: Mart Krupovic
Posted: October 2023

Summary

The family Saparoviridae includes dsDNA viruses infecting hyperhalophilic archaea of Haloarcula sp. (Table 1.Saparoviridae).The family Saparoviridae was established in 2022 (Master Species List 37).

Table 1.Saparoviridae. Characteristics of members of the family Saparoviridae.

CharacteristicDescription
ExampleHaloarcula californiae tailed virus 2 (KC292028), species Samsavirus HCTV2, genus Samsavirus
VirionIcosahedral capsid with non-contractile helical tail (siphovirus-like morphology)
GenomeLinear, dsDNA genome of 52–54 kbp. Circularly permuted
Host rangeHyperhalophilic archaea of Haloarcula sp
TaxonomyRealm Duplodnaviria, kingdom Heunggongvirae, phylum Uroviricota, class Caudoviricetes: 2 genera and 2 species
Saparoviridae genome
Figure 1.Saparoviridae. Genome organisation of Haloarcula hispanica tailed virus 2, a member of the family Saparoviridae. Boxes indicate open reading frames as annotated on GenBank accession KC292028.
Saparoviridae taxonomy
Figure 2.Saparoviridae. Relationships of the taxa connected to the family Saparoviridae.

Derivation of name

Saparoviridae: From Finnish saparo, meaning pig tail