Diversity and Current Classification of dsRNA Bacteriophages

Half a century has passed since the discovery of Pseudomonas phage phi6, the first enveloped dsRNA bacteriophage to be isolated. It remained the sole known dsRNA phage for a quarter of a century and the only recognised member of the family until the year 2018. After the initial discovery of phi6, ad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Viruses 2023-10, Vol.15 (11), p.2154
Main Authors: Mäntynen, Sari, Salomaa, Meri M, Poranen, Minna M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Bacteria
bacteriophage
Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages - genetics
Biological diversity
Classification
Composition
Control
cystovirus
Datasets
Double-stranded RNA
dsRNA virus
Electron microscopes
Genome, Viral
Genomes
Gram-positive bacteria
Identification and classification
Infections
Lipopolysaccharides
Phages
Pseudomonas
Pseudomonas Phages - genetics
RNA viruses
Tomography
Transmission electron microscopy
virus taxonomy
Viruses
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Summary:Half a century has passed since the discovery of Pseudomonas phage phi6, the first enveloped dsRNA bacteriophage to be isolated. It remained the sole known dsRNA phage for a quarter of a century and the only recognised member of the family until the year 2018. After the initial discovery of phi6, additional dsRNA phages have been isolated from globally distant locations and identified in metatranscriptomic datasets, suggesting that this virus type is more ubiquitous in nature than previously acknowledged. Most identified dsRNA phages infect strains and utilise either pilus or lipopolysaccharide components of the host as the primary receptor. In addition to the receptor-mediated strictly lytic lifestyle, an alternative persistent infection strategy has been described for some dsRNA phages. To date, complete genome sequences of fourteen dsRNA phage isolates are available. Despite the high sequence diversity, similar sets of genes can typically be found in the genomes of dsRNA phages, suggesting shared evolutionary trajectories. This review provides a brief overview of the recognised members of the virus family and related dsRNA phage isolates, outlines the current classification of dsRNA phages, and discusses their relationships with eukaryotic RNA viruses.
ISSN:1999-4915
1999-4915
DOI:10.3390/v15112154