''Iridovirus'' is a genus 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 ...

in the family ''

Iridoviridae ''Iridoviridae'' is a family of viruses with double-stranded DNA genomes. Amphibians, fish, and invertebrates such as arthropods serve as natural hosts. There are currently 22 species in this family, divided among two subfamilies and seven genera ...

''. Arthropods serve as natural hosts. Currently, only two species are placed in this genus. Invertebrate iridescent virus 6 (IIV-6) was recognised as the

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

until such a designation was abolished. IIV-6 is hosted by mosquitos and usually causes covert (inapparent) infection that reduces fitness. The other species

Invertebrate iridescent virus 31 Invertebrate iridescent virus 31 (IIV-31, ''Iridovirus armadillidium1'') , also called isopod iridovirus, is a species of invertebrate iridescent virus in the genus '' Iridovirus''. Oniscidea (commonly known by a variety of names including ''woo ...

(IIV-31) is hosted by isopods and causes patent (apparent) infection characterised by blue to bluish-purple iridescence and a shortened lifespan.

Taxonomy

The genus contains the following species, listed by scientific name and followed by the exemplar virus of the species: * ''Iridovirus armadillidium1'',

* ''Iridovirus chilo1'', Invertebrate iridescent virus 6 Former species Invertebrate iridescent virus 1 (IIV-1) has been removed from ''Iridovirus''. Its current status is a tentative member of '' Chloriridovirus''.ICTV
ICTV Taxonomy history: Invertebrate iridescent virus 1 (ZIP)
/ref>

Structure

Viruses in ''Iridovirus'' are enveloped, with icosahedral and polyhedral geometries, and T=147 symmetry. Their diameter is around 185 nm. Genomes are linear, around 213 kb in length. The genome codes for 211 proteins.

Life cycle

Viral replication is nucleocytoplasmic. Entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral proteins to host receptors, which mediates endocytosis. Replication follows the DNA strand displacement model. DNA-templated transcription is the method of transcription. Invertebrates serve as their natural hosts.

References

External links

ICTV Online (10th) Report: ''Iridoviridae''

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18819341 Iridoviridae Virus genera