Rabovirus: a proposed new picornavirus genus that is phylogenetically basal to enteroviruses and sapeloviruses

Arch Virol. 2015 Oct;160(10):2569-75. doi: 10.1007/s00705-015-2523-y. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Abstract

We have sequenced the genome of a novel picornavirus, rabovirus A (rat-borne virus, RaBoV-A, NC_026314), which was present in the feces of a Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) from Berlin, Germany. This virus is related to members of the genera Enterovirus and Sapelovirus. RaboV-A contains a type II IRES that is unlike the type I IRES elements of enteroviruses and the type IV elements of sapeloviruses. Its genome is marked by an L protein and a chymotrypsin-like 2A protease. Our analysis of genome organization, pairwise identities, motif, phylogenic and UTR (GIMPU) indicates that RaBoV-A potentially represents a new picornavirus genus, for which we propose the name "Rabovirus". Spread by their rodent hosts and detected in New York and Berlin rats, these viruses may have a wide geographic distribution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Enterovirus / classification
  • Enterovirus / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral
  • Germany
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny*
  • Picornaviridae / classification
  • Picornaviridae / genetics*
  • Picornaviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Picornaviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Picornaviridae Infections / virology
  • Rats
  • Rodent Diseases / virology*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Viral Proteins