Amesuviridae: a new family of plant-infecting viruses in the phylum Cressdnaviricota, realm Monodnaviria

The phylum Cressdnaviricota comprises viruses with single-stranded, circular DNA genomes that encode an HUH-type endonuclease (known as Rep). The phylum includes two classes, eight orders, and 11 families. Here, we report the creation of a twelfth family in the order Mulpavirales, class Arfiviricetes of the phylum Cressdnaviricota. The family Amesuviridae comprises viruses that infect plants and is divided into two genera: Temfrudevirus, including the species Temfrudevirus temperatum (with temperate fruit decay-associated virus as a member), and Yermavirus, including the species Yermavirus ilicis (with yerba mate-associated circular DNA virus as a member). Both viruses encode Rep proteins with HUH endonuclease and SH3 superfamily helicase domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the replicative module of amesuviruses constitutes a well-supported monophyletic clade related to Rep proteins from viruses in the order Mulpavirales. Furthermore, both viruses encode a single capsid protein (CP) related to geminivirus CPs. Phylogenetic incongruence between the replicative and structural modules of amesuviruses suggests a chimeric origin resulting from remote recombination events between ancestral mulpavirales and geminivirids. The creation of the family Amesuviridae has been ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

Automated summary

The phylum Cressdnaviricota consists of viruses with single-stranded, circular DNA genomes that encode an HUH-type endonuclease (Rep). A twelfth family, Amesuviridae, has been created in the order Mulpavirales, class Arfiviricetes of the phylum Cressdnaviricota. This family includes viruses that infect plants and is divided into two genera: Temfrudevirus and Yermavirus.