Distinguishing features

The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters.

Virion

Morphology

No details are available on the morphology of the virions. 

Nucleic acid

Genome (Woo et al., 2010): c. 7,640–7,678 nt (5′-UTR: 636–646 nt; ORF: 6,765–6,774 nt; 3′-UTR: 238–256 nt). The location of the cre has not been identified.

Genome organization and replication

Genome layout:

VPg+5′-UTR^IRES-V-[L/1AB-1C-1D/2A-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR-poly(A)

The deduced polyprotein is of 2,255–2,258 aa. The genome encodes a L protein. 1AB remains uncleaved (with myristoylation signal). 2A protein has unknown function.

Biology

Viral RNA was detected in faeces of the oriental magpie robin (Copsychus saularis) and the grey-backed thrush (Turdus hortulorum). 

Derivation of names

Osci-: from Oscines (songbirds) from the Latin oscen, 'a songbird'

Species demarcation criteria

There is only a single species in the genus. Oscivirus A includes two genetic virus types classified by means of phylogenetic clustering.

Member species

Virus names, the choice of exemplar isolates, and virus abbreviations, are not official ICTV designations.