Caulimoviridae is a family of viruses infecting plants. The family contains 11 genera. Viruses belonging to the family Caulimoviridae are termed double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) reverse-transcribing viruses (or pararetroviruses) i.e. viruses that contain a reverse transcription stage in their replication cycle. This family contains all plant viruses with a dsDNA genome that have a reverse transcribing phase in their lifecycle.

Taxonomy

The following genera are recognized:. However, unlike the other four families, the Caulimoviridae genomes do not encode an integrase protein. Thus their integration is not mandatory in their replication life cycle. and most known plant EVEs originate from viruses with DNA genomes in the family Caulimoviridae. Integration is thought to occur through non-homologous end-joining (illegitimate recombination) during DNA repair mechanisms. Most plant EVEs are non infectious. However, infectious Caulimoviridae EVEs have been reported in the genome of petunia (Petunia vein clearing virus), banana (Banana streak OL virus, Banana streak GF virus, Banana streak IM virus) and Nicotiana edwardsonii (Tobacco vein clearing virus).

References

  • ICTV Report: Caulimoviridae