Distribution of SNSs in Mimivirus Genomes and the Classification of Mimiviruses Isolated from Japan

Abstract

Mimiviruses have been detected in various habitats. Analyses of single nucleotide substitutions (SNSs) have revealed that SNSs are mainly localized on both ends of the mimivirus genome, and mimivirus lineage A has been split into three genotype groups; therefore, mimiviruses may be classified into lineages and genotype groups based on SNSs. We isolated 9 mimiviruses from Japan and analyzed SNSs. These isolates were classified as lineage A genotype group type 2, suggesting that the local diversity of members of the family Mimiviridae isolated from Acanthamoeba spp. is lower than that of giant viruses from other families isolated in Japan.