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New Calicivirus isolated from walrus
Lilia Ganova-Raeva1, Alvin W Smith, Howard Fields
1Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS A-33 Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. lkg@cdc.gov
Virus Research
|April 16, 2004
Summary
Researchers identified and sequenced Walrus Calicivirus (WCV), a novel Caliciviridae family member. This discovery advances understanding of marine mammal viruses and their genetic makeup.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genomics
- Marine Mammal Health
Background:
- Caliciviridae is a family of viruses that affect various hosts.
- Walruses can harbor unique viral pathogens.
- Understanding novel viral genomes is crucial for public health and veterinary science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the nucleotide sequence and genome organization of a newly identified virus from walrus fecal matter.
- To characterize this new virus as a member of the Vesivirus genus within the Caliciviridae family.
- To provide a foundation for further research into caliciviruses affecting marine mammals.
Main Methods:
- Virus isolation from walrus fecal matter using cell culture.
- Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) for viral fragment recovery.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) primer design and genome assembly.
- Comparative sequence analysis of viral proteins.
Main Results:
- A novel Caliciviridae member, Walrus Calicivirus (WCV), was identified and sequenced.
- The WCV genome is 8289 nucleotides long, with three open reading frames (ORFs).
- WCV shares less than 87% sequence identity with other known Vesivirus species, indicating significant genetic divergence.
Conclusions:
- The complete genome sequence and organization of Walrus Calicivirus were elucidated.
- Comparative analysis of capsid proteins suggests a conserved structural organization within the Caliciviridae family.
- This study expands the known diversity of caliciviruses and provides a new resource for studying marine mammal virology.