Rudiviridae Explained

Rudiviridae is a family of viruses^[1] with linear double stranded DNA genomes that infect archaea. The viruses of this family are highly thermostable and can act as a template for site-selective and spatially controlled chemical modification. Furthermore, the two strands of the DNA are covalently linked at both ends of the genomes, which have long inverted terminal repeats.^[2] These inverted repeats are an adaptation to stabilize the genome in these extreme environments.^[3]

Taxonomy

The following genera are assigned to the family:^[1]

• Azorudivirus
• Hoswirudivirus
• Icerudivirus
• Itarudivirus
• Japarudivirus
• Mexirudivirus
• Usarudivirus

Notes and References

1. Web site: Family: Rudiviridae . Virus Taxonomy: 2020 Release . International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses . March 2021 . 14 May 2021.
2. Book: King AM, Lefkowitz E, Adams MJ, Carstens EB . Virus Taxonomy: Ninth Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses . 2011-11-10 . Elsevier . 978-0-12-384685-3 . en.
3. Silva JM, Pratas D, Caetano T, Matos S . The complexity landscape of viral genomes . GigaScience . 11 . giac079 . August 2022 . 35950839 . 9366995 . 10.1093/gigascience/giac079 .