Open AccessLeviviricetes: expanding and restructuring the taxonomy of bacteria-infecting single-stranded RNA viruses
Author(s) -
Julie Callanan,
Stephen R. Stockdale,
Evelien M. Adriaenssens,
Jens H. Kuhn,
J. Rumnieks,
Mark J. Pallen,
Andrey N. Shkoporov,
Lorraine A. Draper,
R. Paul Ross,
Colin Hill
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
microbial genomics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2057-5858
DOI - 10.1099/mgen.0.000686
Subject(s) - biology , metagenomics , taxonomy (biology) , genome , phylogenetic tree , evolutionary biology , computational biology , rna , phylogenetics , genetics , virology , gene , zoology
The vast majority of described prokaryotic viruses have double-stranded or single-stranded DNA or double-stranded RNA genomes. Until 2020, a mere four prokaryotic single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses have been classified in two genera ( Riboviria; Lenarviricota; Allassoviricetes; Leviviridae ). Several recent metagenomic and metatranscriptomic studies revealed a vastly greater diversity of these viruses in prokaryotic soil communities than ever anticipated. Phylogenetic analysis of these newly discovered viruses prompted the reorganization of class Allassoviricetes , now renamed Leviviricetes , to include two orders, Norzivirales and Timlovirales , and a total of six families, 428 genera and 882 species. Here we outline the new taxonomy of Leviviricetes , approved and ratified in 2021 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, and describe open-access hidden Markov models to accommodate the anticipated identification and future classification of hundreds, if not thousands, of additional class members into this new taxonomic framework.