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 (Lau et al., 2014, Bullman et al., 2014): up to 9,874 nt (5′-UTR: up to 1,009 nt; ORF: up to 8,610; 3′-UTR: up to 308 nt). 5′-UTR contains a predicted type II IRES. The location of the cre has not been identified. 

Genome organization and replication

Genome layout:

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

The deduced polyprotein has2,855–2,870 amino acids. There is an L protein of unknown function. 1AB remains uncleaved. 2A protein has a H-box/NC motif.

Antigenicity

See discussion under family description.

Biology

Viral RNA was detected in faeces of chickens.

Species demarcation criteria

There is only a single species in the genus. Within this species, Sicinivirus A, at least five genetic types are distinguished.

Member species

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

Derivation of names

Sicini-: from Gaelic sicín, "chicken"