Characterization of Port Bolivar Virus, a Novel Entomobirnavirus (Birnaviridae) Isolated from Mosquitoes Collected in East Texas, USA

Robert B Tesh; Bethany G Bolling; Hilda Guzman; Vsevolod L Popov; Ashley Wilson; Steven G Widen; Thomas G Wood; Peter J Walker; Nikos Vasilakis

doi:10.3390/v12040390

Characterization of Port Bolivar Virus, a Novel Entomobirnavirus (Birnaviridae) Isolated from Mosquitoes Collected in East Texas, USA

Viruses. 2020 Mar 31;12(4):390. doi: 10.3390/v12040390.

Authors

Robert B Tesh^{1

2

3

4

5}, Bethany G Bolling⁵, Hilda Guzman^{1

5}, Vsevolod L Popov^{1

3

4

5}, Ashley Wilson⁶, Steven G Widen⁷, Thomas G Wood⁷, Peter J Walker⁸, Nikos Vasilakis^{1

2

3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA.
² Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA.
³ Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA.
⁴ Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0610, USA.
⁵ World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA.
⁶ Galveston County Mosquito Control, 5115 Highway 3, Dickinson, TX 77539, USA.
⁷ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
⁸ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.

Abstract

This report describes and characterizes a novel entomobirnavirus, designated Port Bolivar virus (PTBV), that was isolated from a pool of Aedes sollicitans mosquitoes collected in a saltwater marsh in East Texas, USA. Full genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses indicate that PTBV is distinct but genetically related to Drosophila X virus and mosquito X virus, which are assigned to species in the genus Entomobirnavirus, family Birnaviridae. PTBV produced cytopathic effect (CPE) in cultures of mosquito (C6/36) cells, but not in Vero cell cultures. Ultrastructural studies of PTBV in infected C6/36 cells demonstrated unenveloped virus particles about 55 nm in diameter.

Keywords: Birnaviridae; Entomobirnavirus; Port Bolivar virus; mosquito viruses.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Aedes / virology*
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Base Sequence
Cell Line
Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral
Entomobirnavirus / classification*
Entomobirnavirus / genetics
Entomobirnavirus / physiology*
Entomobirnavirus / ultrastructure
Genome, Viral / genetics
Insect Viruses / classification
Insect Viruses / genetics
Insect Viruses / physiology
Insect Viruses / ultrastructure
Phylogeny
RNA, Viral / genetics
Species Specificity
Texas
Virion / ultrastructure

Substances

RNA, Viral

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding