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Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
Espirito Santo virus: a new birnavirus that replicates in insect cells
Ricardo Vancini1, Angel Paredes, Mariana Ribeiro
1Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Journal of Virology
|December 16, 2011
Summary
A novel Espirito Santo virus (ESV) was discovered as contamination in dengue virus samples. This unique birnavirus replicates in insect cells but not mammalian cells, highlighting its distinct characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Espirito Santo virus (ESV) was identified as a contaminant in a dengue-2 virus strain.
- ESV requires coinfection with dengue virus to replicate and shows tropism for insect cells (C6/36) but not mammalian cells (Vero).
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the novel Espirito Santo virus (ESV).
- To determine the genomic and proteomic features of ESV.
- To compare ESV with known viruses, particularly members of the Birnaviridae family.
Main Methods:
- De novo genome sequencing and assembly.
- Mass spectrometry for protein identification.
- Bioinformatic analysis including BLAST and sequence comparison.
- Biochemical and structural analysis.
Main Results:
- The complete genome sequence of ESV was determined and did not match any known viral sequences.
- Mass spectrometry identified ESV proteins that corresponded to the assembled genome.
- ESV shares some characteristics with birnaviruses but exhibits significant differences from Drosophila X virus (DXV), the type species of the genus Entomobirnavirus.
Conclusions:
- Espirito Santo virus (ESV) represents a unique infectious agent within the Birnaviridae family.
- ESV's distinct genomic and proteomic features warrant its classification as a potentially new genus or species.
- Further research is needed to understand ESV's biological significance and its relationship with coinfecting viruses like dengue virus.
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