Complete nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of a primate calicivirus, Pan-1

The primate calicivirus, Pan-1, was originally isolated from several primate species. It displayed typical calicivirus morphology by electron microscopy. We determined the genomic sequence of Pan-1 by cDNA cloning and direct RNA sequencing. Pan-1 shares a similar genomic organization and a high degree of sequence identity with feline caliciviruses. The Pan-1 genome contains 8,304 nucleotides, plus a poly-A tail, and is longer than any other calicivirus strains with a completely known sequence. The extra sequences of Pan-1 include a unique 424-nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of ORF1, additional amino acids at the N-terminus of the capsid, and a longer 3' UTR.