Carmotetraviridae

[[File:{{{image}}}|250px|alt=|]] Authority:

Carmotetraviridae
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:	Carmotetraviridae

Carmotetraviridae is a family of RNA viruses that infects invertebrates, particularly insects. This family is characterized by its small, non-enveloped, icosahedral virions and its single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome. The family is part of the order Tymovirales.

Structure

Carmotetraviridae virions are non-enveloped and have an icosahedral symmetry with a diameter of approximately 40 nm. The capsid is composed of 180 copies of a single type of capsid protein, which forms a T=3 icosahedral lattice. The genome is a single molecule of linear, positive-sense RNA, typically around 4.5 kilobases in length.

Genome

The genome of Carmotetraviridae is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA that encodes a small number of proteins. These include the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which is essential for viral replication, and the capsid protein. The genome organization is relatively simple, with overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) that are translated into the viral proteins.

Replication Cycle

The replication cycle of Carmotetraviridae begins with the attachment of the virion to the host cell surface, followed by entry into the cell. Once inside, the viral RNA is released into the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for translation of viral proteins. The RdRp synthesizes a complementary negative-sense RNA strand, which is then used as a template to produce new positive-sense RNA genomes. These genomes are packaged into new virions, which are released from the host cell to infect new cells.

Host Range and Pathogenesis

Carmotetraviridae primarily infects insects, and its members have been isolated from various insect species. The viruses in this family are not known to cause significant disease in their hosts, and their ecological role is not fully understood. They may play a role in regulating insect populations or in the transmission of other pathogens.

Taxonomy

The family Carmotetraviridae is currently unassigned to any genera, and its classification is based on molecular and structural characteristics. The family is part of the order Tymovirales, which includes other families of plant and insect viruses.

Also see

• Tymovirales
• RNA virus
• Virus classification
• Insect virology