{{short description|Hypothesized genus of giant viruses}} {{Virusbox | taxon = Catovirus }}
'''''Catovirus''''' ('''CatV''') is a genus of giant double-stranded DNA–containing viruses (nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses). This genus was detected during the analysis of metagenome samples of bottom sediments of reservoirs at the wastewater treatment plant in Klosterneuburg, Austria.
New ''Klosneuvirus'' (KNV), ''Hokovirus'' and ''Indivirus'' genera (all found in these sewage waters) were also described together with ''Catovirus'', building up a putative virus subfamily ''Klosneuvirinae'' (Klosneuviruses) with KNV as type genus.<ref name="Schulz2017">{{Cite journal |last1=Schulz |first1=Frederik |last2=Yutin |first2=Natalya |last3=Ivanova |first3=Natalia N. |last4=Ortega |first4=Davi R. |last5=Lee |first5=Tae Kwon |last6=Vierheilig |first6=Julia |last7=Daims |first7=Holger |last8=Horn |first8=Matthias |last9=Wagner |first9=Michael |date=2017-04-07 |title=Giant viruses with an expanded complement of translation system components|journal=Science |language=en |volume=356 |issue=6333 |pages=82–85 |doi=10.1126/science.aal4657 |pmid=28386012 |issn=0036-8075 |bibcode=2017Sci...356...82S |doi-access=free }}</ref> ''Catovirus'' has a large genome of 1.53 million base pairs (1176 gene families). This is the second largest genome among known Klosneuviruses after KNV (1.57 million base pairs, 1272 gene families). GC content is 26.4 %<ref name="Schulz2017" /> Classification of metagenomes made by analyzing 18S rRNA indicate that their hosts may be related to the simple Cercozoa.<ref name="Schulz2017" />
The genus contains one species: ''Catovirus klosterense''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Virus Taxonomy: 2025 Release |url=https://ictv.global/taxonomy |publisher=International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
==See also== * Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses * Girus
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * Mitch Leslie: Giant viruses found in Austrian sewage fuel debate over potential fourth domain of life. In: Science. 5. April 2017, doi:10.1126/science.aal1005.
{{Taxonbar|from=Q30973349}}
Category:Virus genera Category:Mimiviridae Category:Unaccepted virus taxa