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Divergent picobirnaviruses in human feces
Terry Fei Fan Ng1, Everardo Vega2, Nikola O Kondov3
1terryfeifan@gmail.com delwarte@medicine.ucsf.edu.
Genome Announcements
|May 17, 2014
Summary
Two novel human picobirnaviruses (PBVs) were identified in diarrheal samples. Genetic analysis revealed unique RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequences and a potential translational readthrough mechanism in one virus.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Picobirnaviruses (PBVs) are small, bisegmented dsRNA viruses.
- Their role in human gastroenteritis is not fully understood.
- Limited genomic information exists for human-infecting strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To genetically characterize two newly identified human picobirnaviruses (HuPBV-D and HuPBV-E).
- To investigate the genetic features of their RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and other open reading frames (ORFs).
Main Methods:
- Near-complete genome sequencing of PBVs from diarrheal stool samples.
- Bioinformatic analysis of deduced protein sequences, including RdRp and ORF2.
- Secondary structure prediction for RNA elements.
Main Results:
- The RdRp protein sequences of HuPBV-D and HuPBV-E showed less than 66% identity to known PBVs.
- A single nucleotide insertion in segment 1 of HuPBV-D interrupted ORF2 with a premature stop codon.
- A predicted stem-loop structure near the stop codon suggests a potential mechanism for translational readthrough.
Conclusions:
- HuPBV-D and HuPBV-E represent novel genetic lineages of human picobirnaviruses.
- The genetic divergence highlights the diversity of PBVs in human infections.
- The potential translational readthrough mechanism in HuPBV-D warrants further investigation for viral protein expression.
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