Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Mischivirus
Distinguishing features
The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters.
Virion
Morphology
No details are available on the morphology of virions.
Nucleic acid
Genome (Wu et al., 2012, Kemenesi et al., 2015): c. 8,457 nt (5′-UTR: up to 1,407 nt; ORF: 6750–6,846 nt; 3′-UTR: up to 220 nt). The 5′-UTR is exceptionally long. The location of the cre has not been identified.
Genome organization and replication
Genome layout:
VPg+5′-UTRIRES-II- [L-1AB-1C-1D-2Anpgp/2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D] -3′-UTR-poly(A)
The deduced polyprotein is of 2,282 aa. There is likely an L protein of unknown function. 2A is a short polypeptide with an NPG↓P motif.
Biology
The natural host is likely the common bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) and the groundleaf giant bat (Hipposideros gigas). No virus has been isolated. Viral RNA was detected in pharyngeal and anal swabs of apparently healthy bats.
Derivation of names
Mischivirus: from the host species Miniopterus schreibersii (common bent-wing bat)
Species demarcation criteria
Members of a species of the genus Mischivirus:
- are less than 30% divergent in polyprotein aa sequence
- are less than 30% divergent in P1 aa sequence
- are less than 25% divergent in 2C + 3CD aa sequence
- share a common genome organization