Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

08:10
Evaluation of a Universal Nested Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection of Lyssaviruses
Published on: May 2, 2019
Sequence comparison of pigeon circoviruses
D Todd1, E Fringuelli, A N J Scott
1Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Belfast, UK. Daniel.Todd@afbini.gov.uk
Research in Veterinary Science
|May 12, 2007
Summary
Genome sequencing of pigeon circoviruses (PiCV) revealed high sequence identity, aiding in the development of diagnostic PCR primers. Genetic variations in capsid proteins are crucial for future vaccine design against PiCV.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Pigeon circoviruses (PiCV) are significant pathogens affecting avian health.
- Understanding PiCV genetic diversity is crucial for disease control and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and compare the genome sequences of multiple PiCV isolates.
- To identify conserved and variable regions within the PiCV genome for diagnostic and vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Genome sequencing of eight PiCV isolates.
- Comparative genomic analysis with four existing PiCV sequences.
- Analysis of nucleotide and amino acid identities for Rep and Cap proteins.
Main Results:
- 12 PiCV genomes (2032-2040 nucleotides) showed similar organization.
- Genome-wide nucleotide identities ranged from 85.1% to 97.8%.
- Amino acid identities for Rep (91.5-99.1%) and Cap (73.0-99.3%) proteins were determined.
Conclusions:
- Conserved regions in the Rep gene and 3' intergenic regions are suitable for developing diagnostic PCR primers.
- Variable amino acid sequences in capsid proteins offer targets for future PiCV vaccine development.
Related Concept Videos
Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
Viral Mutations
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...

