Polyploviricotina

Polyploviricotina is a subphylum of the phylum Negarnaviricota, which is part of the kingdom Orthornavirae. This subphylum includes viruses that infect a variety of organisms, including plants, fungi, and animals.

Overview[edit | edit source]

The subphylum Polyploviricotina was established by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) in 2019. It is characterized by viruses that have a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome. The genome of these viruses is encapsidated by the nucleocapsid protein (N) and is associated with the RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRp).

Taxonomy[edit | edit source]

The subphylum Polyploviricotina is divided into two classes: Ellioviricetes and Insthoviricetes. These classes are further divided into orders, families, subfamilies, genera, and species. The classification of viruses within this subphylum is based on their host range, genome organization, and the structure of their virions.

Virion Structure[edit | edit source]

Viruses in the subphylum Polyploviricotina have a helical nucleocapsid structure. The nucleocapsid is composed of the viral genome and the nucleocapsid protein. The virions of these viruses are enveloped, meaning they have a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell membrane.

Replication Cycle[edit | edit source]

The replication cycle of Polyploviricotina viruses begins with the attachment of the virus to the host cell. The viral genome is then released into the host cell, where it is transcribed and replicated by the viral RdRp. The newly synthesized viral proteins and genomes are assembled into new virions, which are then released from the host cell to infect new cells.

Pathogenesis[edit | edit source]

Viruses in the subphylum Polyploviricotina can cause a variety of diseases in their hosts. These diseases can range from mild to severe, depending on the specific virus and the host species.