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Establishment of Viral Infection and Analysis of Host-Virus Interaction in Drosophila Melanogaster
Published on: March 14, 2019
Biological and molecular studies of a cypovirus from the black fly Simulium ubiquitum (Diptera: Simuliidae)
Terry B Green1, Susan White, Shujing Rao
1ARS, CMAVE, 1600-1700 S.W. 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
Abstract:
A cypovirus from the black fly Simulium ubiquitum (SuCPV) was isolated and examined using biological and molecular techniques. SuCPV produces small (typically 0.25mum), polyhedral shaped inclusion bodies (polyhedra), in which the virus particles become multiply embedded. SuCPV is the third cypovirus isolated from Diptera, but the first from Simuliidae that has been characterized using molecular analyses. SuCPV has a genome composed of 10 segments of dsRNA, with an electrophoretic migration pattern that is different from those of recent UsCPV-17 and CrCPV-17 isolates from the mosquitoes Uranotaenia sapphirina and Culex restuans, respectively. The SuCPV electropherotype appears to show significant differences from those of the previously characterized lepidopteran cypoviruses. Sequence analysis of SuCPV segment 10 shows that it is unrelated to either of the two CPV isolates from Diptera or to the CPV species for which Seg-10 has been previously characterized from Lepidoptera. A comparison of the terminal regions of SuCPV genome segments to those of CPV-1, 2, 4, 5 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 also revealed only low levels of conservation. We therefore, propose that SuCPV is classified within a new Cypovirus species, which we have tentatively identified as Cypovirus-20. We have therefore referred to this virus isolate as S. ubiquitum CPV-20 (SuCPV-20).
Insights
A new cypovirus, Simulium ubiquitum cypovirus (SuCPV), was identified in black flies. Molecular analysis reveals it represents a distinct species, Cypovirus-20, differing from other known cypoviruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Entomology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cypoviruses are insect-specific viruses belonging to the family Reoviridae.
- Black flies (Simuliidae) are known vectors of diseases, but their associated viral pathogens are less characterized.
- Previous cypovirus research has primarily focused on Lepidoptera and some Diptera species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a cypovirus from the black fly Simulium ubiquitum.
- To determine the phylogenetic relationship of this new cypovirus to existing species using molecular techniques.
- To propose a novel classification for the newly identified virus.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and biological examination of the cypovirus from Simulium ubiquitum.
- Molecular characterization including dsRNA genome analysis and electrophoretic profiling.
- Sequence analysis of specific genome segments (e.g., segment 10) and terminal region comparisons.
Main Results:
- A cypovirus, designated SuCPV, was isolated and found to produce polyhedral inclusion bodies.
- SuCPV possesses a 10-segment dsRNA genome with an electrophoretic pattern distinct from other known Diptera cypoviruses.
- Sequence analysis of SuCPV segment 10 and genome termini showed low conservation with other cypoviruses, indicating significant divergence.
Conclusions:
- SuCPV represents a novel cypovirus species, distinct from previously characterized isolates.
- The proposed classification is Cypovirus-20, with the isolate referred to as S. ubiquitum CPV-20 (SuCPV-20).
- This finding expands the known diversity of cypoviruses within the Diptera order.
