Aspiviridae, formerly Ophioviridae, is a family of segmented negative-strand RNA viruses which infect plants. Member viruses are characterized by an elongated and highly filamentous and flexible nucleocapsid with helical symmetry.[1] It is a monotypic taxon containing only one genus, Ophiovirus.[2] Aspiviridae is also the only family in the order Serpentovirales, which in turn is the only order in the class Milneviricetes.[3]
| Ophiovirus | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| (top) Electron micrograph of Citrus psorosis ophiovirus; (bottom) Mirafiori lettuce big-vein virus genome | |
Virus classification  | |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Riboviria |
| Kingdom: | Orthornavirae |
| Phylum: | Negarnaviricota |
| Class: | Milneviricetes |
| Order: | Serpentovirales |
| Family: | Aspiviridae |
| Genus: | Ophiovirus |
| Species | |
History
The name Aspiviridae derives from the Latin aspis (snake or viper), referring to the shape, along with the suffix for a virus family -viridae.[4] Ophiovirus derives from the Ancient Greek ophis, "snake", with –virus the suffix for a virus genus.[5] Likewise, Serpentovirales is from "serpent" with -virales the suffix for a virus order.[4] Milneviricetes is in honor of Robert G. Milne, the last author on the first paper describing ophioviruses.[4][6]
Virology
Structure
The protein capsid is non-enveloped and has a constant diameter of 1500–2500 nm and a width of 3 nm, or 9 nm. The capsids form kinked circles, which can collapse to form linear duplex structures, much like a spring.[3]
Genome
Member viruses have segmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genomes. The entire genome is 11000–12000 nucleotides long.[3][7]
Taxonomy
The family has one genus, Ophiovirus, which has seven recognized species. Members of both the family and the genus are referred to as ophioviruses.[3]
- Family: Aspiviridae
- Genus: Ophiovirus
- Species: (Past name; New name)
- Blueberry mosaic associated ophiovirus; Ophiovirus vaccinii
- Citrus psorosis ophiovirus; Ophiovirus citri
- Freesia sneak ophiovirus; Ophiovirus freesiae
- Lettuce ring necrosis ophiovirus; Ophiovirus lactucae
- Mirafiori lettuce big-vein ophiovirus; Ophiovirus mirafioriense
- Ranunculus white mottle ophiovirus; Ophiovirus ranunculi
- Tulip mild mottle mosaic ophiovirus; Ophiovirus tulipae
- Species: (Past name; New name)
- Genus: Ophiovirus