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uttaviridae

Uttaviridae is a family of viruses that infect archaea, with natural hosts primarily belonging to this domain. The family contains two genera, each with a single species. The name "Guttaviridae" comes from the Latin word gutta, meaning "droplet," reflecting the virion's shape.

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Taxonomy

The family includes the following genus and species:

  • Betaguttavirus: Aeropyrum pernix ovoid virus 1
    Previously, the genus Alphaguttavirus and the species Sulfolobus newzealandicus droplet-shaped virus were included but were removed in the ICTV classification of 2021.

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Structure

Viruses in the Guttaviridae family are enveloped and possess a distinctive structure. They have a diameter of around 70–95 nm and a length of 110–185 nm. Their genomes are circular, approximately 20 kb in length. The virions are composed of a coat, a core, a nucleocapsid, and projecting fibers at the pointed end. The surface of the virion displays a beehive-like ribbed pattern, with protrusions densely covered by long fibers, often referred to as a "beard" at the pointed end. The genome of these viruses is heavily methylated.

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Life Cycle

The replication of these viruses follows a DNA-templated transcription process. The natural hosts for these viruses are archaea, with replication occurring within the host cell, though specific details about the infection cycle are not fully described in the available data.