iridovirus iridovirus iridovirus is a genus of viruses in the family iridoviridae. insects serve as natural hosts. currently, only two species are placed in this genus. invertebrate iridescent virus 6 (iiv-6) was recognised as the type species until such a designation was abolished. iiv-6 is hosted by mosquitos and usually causes covert (inapparent) infection that reduces fitness. the remaining species invertebrate iridescent virus 31 (iiv-31) is hosted by isopods and causes patent (apparent) infection characterised by blue to bluish-purple iridescence and a shortened lifespan. iridovirus schematic drawings of iridovirus virions virus classification (unranked): virus realm: varidnaviria kingdom: bamfordvirae phylum: nucleocytoviricota class: megaviricetes order: pimascovirales family: iridoviridae subfamily: betairidovirinae genus: iridovirus species see text taxonomy group: dsdna order: pimascovirales family: iridoviridae genus: iridovirus invertebrate iridescent virus 6 invertebrate iridescent virus 31 former species invertebrate iridescent virus 1 (iiv-1) has been removed from iridovirus. its current status is a tentative member of chloriridovirus. structure viruses in iridovirus are enveloped, with icosahedral and polyhedral geometries, and t=147 symmetry. their diameter is around 185 nm. genomes are linear, around 213 kb in length. the genome codes for 211 proteins. genusstructuresymmetrygenomic arrangementgenomic segmentation iridoviruspolyhedralt=147linearmonopartite lifecycle viral replication is nucleocytoplasmic. entry into the host cell is achieved by attachment of the viral proteins to host receptors, which mediates endocytosis. replication follows the dna strand displacement model. dna-templated transcription is the method of transcription. invertebrates serve as their natural hosts. genushost detailstissue tropismentry detailsrelease detailsreplication siteassembly sitetransmission iridovirusinvertebratesnonecell receptor endocytosislysis; buddingnucleuscytoplasmcontact