tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Virol. 2014 Feb 26. [Epub ahead of print]
Upolu virus and Aransas Bay virus, two presumptive bunyaviruses, are novel members of the family Orthomyxoviridae.
Briese T1, Chowdhary R, Travassos da Rosa A, Hutchison SK, Popov V, Street C, Tesh RB, Lipkin WI.
Author information
Abstract
Emerging and zoonotic pathogens pose continuing threats to human health and ongoing challenges to diagnostics. As nucleic acid tests are playing increasingly prominent roles in diagnostics, the genetic characterization of molecularly uncharacterized agents is expected to significantly enhance detection and surveillance capabilities. We report the identification of two previously unrecognized members of the family Orthomyxoviridae, which includes the influenza viruses and the tick-transmitted Thogoto and Dhori viruses. We provide morphologic, serologic and genetic evidence that Upolu virus (UPOV) from Australia and Aransas Bay virus (ABV) from North America, both previously considered potential bunyaviruses based on electron microscopy and physicochemical features, are orthomyxoviruses instead. Their genomes show up to 68% nucleotide sequence conservation to Thogoto virus (segment 2; ∼74% at amino acid level) and a more distant relationship to Dhori virus, the two prototype viruses of the recognized species in the genus Thogotovirus. Despite sequence similarity, the coding potential of UPOV and ABV differed from Thogoto virus, being instead like that of Dhori virus. Our findings suggest that the tick-transmitted UPOV and ABV represent geographically distinct viruses in the genus Thogotovirus of the family Orthomyxoviridae that do not fit in the two currently recognized species of that genus.
IMPORTANCE.:
Upolu virus (UPOV) and Aransas Bay virus (ABV) are shown to be orthomyxoviruses instead of bunyaviruses as previously thought. Genetic characterization and adequate classification of agents is paramount in this molecular age to devise appropriate surveillance and diagnostics. Although closer to Thogoto virus by sequence, UPOV and ABV differ in their coding potential by lacking a proposed pathogenicity factor. In this respect they are similar to Dhori virus, which despite this lack can cause disease. These findings enable further studies into the evolution and pathogenicity of orthomyxoviruses.
PMID:
24574415
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24574415
Upolu virus and Aransas Bay virus, two presumptive bunyaviruses, are novel members of the family Orthomyxoviridae.
Briese T1, Chowdhary R, Travassos da Rosa A, Hutchison SK, Popov V, Street C, Tesh RB, Lipkin WI.
Author information
Abstract
Emerging and zoonotic pathogens pose continuing threats to human health and ongoing challenges to diagnostics. As nucleic acid tests are playing increasingly prominent roles in diagnostics, the genetic characterization of molecularly uncharacterized agents is expected to significantly enhance detection and surveillance capabilities. We report the identification of two previously unrecognized members of the family Orthomyxoviridae, which includes the influenza viruses and the tick-transmitted Thogoto and Dhori viruses. We provide morphologic, serologic and genetic evidence that Upolu virus (UPOV) from Australia and Aransas Bay virus (ABV) from North America, both previously considered potential bunyaviruses based on electron microscopy and physicochemical features, are orthomyxoviruses instead. Their genomes show up to 68% nucleotide sequence conservation to Thogoto virus (segment 2; ∼74% at amino acid level) and a more distant relationship to Dhori virus, the two prototype viruses of the recognized species in the genus Thogotovirus. Despite sequence similarity, the coding potential of UPOV and ABV differed from Thogoto virus, being instead like that of Dhori virus. Our findings suggest that the tick-transmitted UPOV and ABV represent geographically distinct viruses in the genus Thogotovirus of the family Orthomyxoviridae that do not fit in the two currently recognized species of that genus.
IMPORTANCE.:
Upolu virus (UPOV) and Aransas Bay virus (ABV) are shown to be orthomyxoviruses instead of bunyaviruses as previously thought. Genetic characterization and adequate classification of agents is paramount in this molecular age to devise appropriate surveillance and diagnostics. Although closer to Thogoto virus by sequence, UPOV and ABV differ in their coding potential by lacking a proposed pathogenicity factor. In this respect they are similar to Dhori virus, which despite this lack can cause disease. These findings enable further studies into the evolution and pathogenicity of orthomyxoviruses.
PMID:
24574415
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24574415