Complete Genome Sequence of Halorubrum Pleomorphic Virus 8

Pleomorphic archaeal viruses are widespread and abundant in hypersaline environments and beyond. Still, a relatively low number of isolated and described species are available for this viral group. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Halorubrum pleomorphic virus 8 (HRPV-8), which was previously isolated from the Samut Sakhon solar saltern, Thailand, on a Halorubrum species. The HRPV-8 genome was assembled into a circular 10,824-bp-long contig with a GC content of 63.2%. The genome was predicted to encode 12 proteins, including a VP4-like spike protein, which is a hallmark of pleomorphic archaeal viruses. In HRPV-8, seven and three putative proteins were 99–100% identical to their counterparts in Halorubrum pleomorphic viruses 2 and 6, respectively, which are members of the genus Alphapleolipovirus. The average nucleotide identity values within these three viral genomes were 92–96%. According to VIRIDIC analyses of intergenomic similarities, HRPV-8 represents its own species. Thus, based on the observed pleolipoviral genome architecture and sequence similarities to other alphapleolipoviruses, we propose to classify HRPV-8 as a new species within the Alphapleolipovirus genus of the Pleolipoviridae family.