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The Positive Sense Single Stranded RNA Viruses – Family Leviviridae

Summary

This research provides a detailed classification and characterization of RNA viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses are particularly important for understanding basic principles of virus biology and have practical applications in environmental monitoring and medical treatments. Impacts on everyday life: • These viruses are used as indicators for monitoring water quality and safety • They serve as model systems for developing new antiviral strategies • They have potential applications in phage therapy to treat bacterial infections • They help us understand how viruses evolve and adapt to their hosts • Their presence in sewage and water systems makes them important for public health monitoring

Background

The Leviviridae family consists of small, non-enveloped RNA bacteriophages that infect various gram-negative bacteria. These viruses occur worldwide and are abundantly present in sewage, waste water, animal and human feces. They have spherical virions with icosahedral symmetry and a diameter of about 26 nm.

Objective

This chapter provides a comprehensive taxonomic and structural overview of the Leviviridae family, including detailed characterization of their virion properties, genome organization, replication mechanisms, and classification into genera and species.

Results

The research identified two main genera within Leviviridae: Levivirus and Allolevivirus. Key differences between these genera include genome length, presence/absence of read-through protein, and lysis mechanisms. The study revealed detailed structural information about the viral capsid, which contains 180 copies of coat protein arranged in an icosahedron. The genome consists of positive-sense single-stranded RNA ranging from 3466-4276 nucleotides.

Conclusion

The Leviviridae family represents a well-characterized group of RNA bacteriophages with distinct structural and genetic properties. Their classification into two genera is supported by multiple criteria including genome organization, protein composition, and host factor requirements. These viruses serve as important model systems for studying RNA virus biology and have potential applications in water quality monitoring and phage therapy.
  • Published in:Virus Taxonomy,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.1016/B978-0-12-249951-7.50015-8
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