Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Validating Whole Genome Nanopore Sequencing, using Usutu Virus as an Example
05:45

Validating Whole Genome Nanopore Sequencing, using Usutu Virus as an Example

Published on: March 11, 2020

9.0K

Genome Sequences of Five Arenaviruses from Pygmy Mice (Mus minutoides) in Sierra Leone

Matej Vučak1, James Bangura2, Bruno M Ghersi3

  • 1MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Microbiology Resource Announcements
|April 7, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Scientists assembled the genome sequences of five mammarenavirus strains from pygmy mice in Sierra Leone. The newly named Seli virus is related to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and other known mammarenaviruses.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Genomics
  • Mammalian infectious diseases

Background:

  • Mammarenaviruses are a genus of viruses known to cause disease in rodents and humans.
  • Pygmy mice (Mus minutoides) are small rodents found in parts of Africa.
  • Metagenomic sequencing allows for the analysis of genetic material from environmental samples.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assemble and characterize novel mammarenavirus genomes from a wildlife host.
  • To identify the evolutionary relationships of newly discovered mammarenaviruses.

Main Methods:

  • Metagenomic sequencing of samples from pygmy mice.
  • Bioinformatic assembly and analysis of viral genomes.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to determine viral relationships.

Main Results:

  • Genome sequences of five novel mammarenavirus strains were successfully assembled.
  • The new viruses were named Seli viruses.
  • Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Seli viruses are most closely related to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Lunk virus, and Ryukyu virus.

Conclusions:

  • This study reports the first genomic characterization of mammarenaviruses in pygmy mice.
  • The discovery of Seli virus expands the known diversity of mammarenaviruses.
  • Further research is needed to understand the potential pathogenicity and ecological role of Seli virus.

More Related Videos

Unbiased Deep Sequencing of RNA Viruses from Clinical Samples09:36

Unbiased Deep Sequencing of RNA Viruses from Clinical Samples

Published on: July 2, 2016

17.2K
Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes08:56

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes

Published on: July 27, 2018

11.1K

Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

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...
33.9K