ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Partitiviridae

Abstract

The Partitiviridae is a family of small, isometric, non-enveloped viruses with bisegmented double-stranded (ds) RNA genomes of 3-4.8 kbp. The two genome segments are individually encapsidated. The family has five genera, with characteristic hosts for members of each genus: either plants or fungi for genera Alphapartitivirus and Betapartitivirus, fungi for genus Gammapartitivirus, plants for genus Deltapartitivirus and protozoa for genus Cryspovirus. Partitiviruses are transmitted intracellularly via seeds (plants), oocysts (protozoa) or hyphal anastomosis, cell division and sporogenesis (fungi); there are no known natural vectors. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Partitiviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/partitiviridae.

Keywords: Alphapartitivirus; Betapartitivirus; Cryspovirus; Deltapartitivirus; Gammapartitivirus; ICTV; Partitiviridae; taxonomy.

Fig. 1.

(a) Transmission electron micrograph of negatively-stained purified particles of Penicillium stoloniferum virus S, a representative member of the genus Gammapartitivirus. (b) Cryo-EM reconstructions of Penicillium stoloniferum virus S at 0.45 nm resolution, and rendered with radial colour mapping.

Fig. 2.

Atkinsonella hypoxylon virus [10], an isolate of the type species of the genus Betapartitivirus, has a bipartite genome consisting of dsRNA1 and dsRNA2.