''Closteroviridae'' is a family of

viruses A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. Viruses are found in almo ...

. Plants serve as natural hosts. There are seven genera in this family. Diseases associated with this family include: yellowing and necrosis, particularly affecting the phloem.

Taxonomy

Genome type and transmission vector are two of the most important traits used for classification. Ampeloviruses and Closteroviruses have monopartite genomes and are transmitted by pseudococcid

mealybug Mealybugs are insects in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm habitats. Of the more than 2,000 described species, many are considered pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and ...

s (and soft

scale insect Scale insects are small insects of the Order (biology), order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient g ...

s) and

aphid Aphids are small sap-sucking insects in the Taxonomic rank, family Aphididae. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white Eriosomatinae, woolly ...

s respectively. While Criniviruses are bipartite and transmitted by whiteflies. The family contains the following genera: * '' Ampelovirus'' * '' Bluvavirus'' * '' Closterovirus'' * '' Crinivirus'' * '' Menthavirus'' * '' Olivavirus'' * '' Velarivirus''

Structure

Viruses in the family ''Closteroviridae'' are non-enveloped, with flexuous and filamentous geometries. The diameter is around 10–13 nm, with a length of 950–2200 nm. Genomes are linear and non-segmented, bipartite, around 20kb in length.

Life cycle

Viral replication is cytoplasmic. Entry into the host cell is achieved by penetration into the host cell. Replication follows the positive stranded RNA virus replication model. Positive stranded RNA virus transcription is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by tubule-guided viral movement. Plants serve as the natural host. Transmission routes are mechanical.

References

External links

ICTV Report: ''Closteroviridae''

{{Authority control Virus families Riboviria