Novel circular DNA viruses associated with Apiaceae and Poaceae from South Africa and New Zealand

Arch Virol. 2019 Jan;164(1):237-242. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-4031-3. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Abstract

Advances in molecular techniques used in viral metagenomics coupled with high throughput sequencing is rapidly expanding our knowledge of plant-associated virus diversity. Applying such approaches, we have identified five novel circular replication-associated protein (Rep)-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses from Poaceae and Apiaceae plant from South Africa and New Zealand. These viruses have a simple genomic organization, including two open reading frames that likely encode a Rep and a capsid protein (CP), a conserved nonanucleotide motif on the apex of a putative stem loop structure, and conserved rolling-circle replication and helicase motifs within their likely Rep: all suggesting that they replicate through rolling-circle replication. The Reps and the CPs putatively encoded by these five novel viruses share low to moderate degrees of similarity (22.1 - 44.6%) with other CRESS DNA viruses.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Apiaceae / virology*
  • DNA Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Circular*
  • New Zealand
  • Plant Viruses / genetics*
  • Poaceae / virology*
  • South Africa

Substances

  • DNA, Circular