Genome comparison of a nonpathogenic myxoma virus field strain with its ancestor, the virulent Lausanne strain

J Virol. 2009 Mar;83(5):2397-403. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02189-08. Epub 2008 Dec 17.

Abstract

One of the best-studied examples of host-virus coevolution is the release of myxoma virus (MV) for biological control of European rabbits in Australia and Europe. To investigate the genetic basis of MV adaptation to its new host, we sequenced the genome of 6918, an attenuated Spanish field strain, and compared it with that of Lausanne, the strain originally released in Europe in 1952. Although isolated 43 years apart, the genomes were highly conserved (99.95% identical). Only 32 of the 159 MV predicted proteins revealed amino acid changes. Four genes (M009L, M036L, M135R, and M148R) in 6918 were disrupted by frameshift mutations.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myxoma virus / genetics*
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Rabbits / virology
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Deletion

Substances

  • DNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EU552530
  • GENBANK/EU552531