Distinguishing features
The genus is distinguished on the basis of genetic characters.
Virion
Morphology
No details are available on the morphology of virions.
Nucleic acid
Genome (Zylberberg et al., 2016): 7,653 nt (5′-UTR: 788 nt; ORF: 6,780 nt; 3′-UTR: 85 nt). The location of the cre has not been identified.
Genome organization and replication
Genome layout:
VPg+5′-UTRIRES-[1AB-1C-1D/2A-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D]-3′-UTR-poly(A)
The deduced polyprotein is of 2,260 aa. The genome encodes no L protein. 1AB remains uncleaved. The function of the 2A protein is unknown.
Biology
No virus has been isolated. Viral RNA has been detected in tissue samples (mandible) of diseased black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Sustna Valley, Alaska, USA. The virus is suspected to cause the avian keratin disorder (AKD).
Derivation of names
Poecivirus: refers to the host Poecile atricapillus (black-capped chickadee).
Species demarcation criteria
There is only a single species in the genus.
Member species
| Species | Virus name | Isolate | Accession number | RefSeq number | Available sequence | Virus Abbrev. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poecivirus A | poecivirus A1 | BCCH-449 | KU977108 | Complete genome | PoeV-A |