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Dolphin and porpoise morbilliviruses are genetically distinct from phocine distemper virus
T Barrett1, I K Visser, L Mamaev
1AFRC Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The morbilliviruses recently isolated from two cetacean species in the North and Mediterranean Seas have been shown to differ from phocine distemper virus isolated from European seals using monoclonal antibodies. We have identified a "universal" morbillivirus primer set, based on highly conserved regions of the morbillivirus phosphoprotein (P) gene and used this to amplify a region surrounding the RNA editing site from all known members of the group. Sequence analysis of this region of the gene shows that the dolphin and porpoise viruses are related but quite different from all other members of the group, forming a distinct lineage more closely related to the ruminant morbilliviruses than to the carnivore viruses.
Insights
New cetacean morbilliviruses from marine mammals are distinct from other known strains. Genetic analysis reveals a unique lineage, more closely related to ruminant morbilliviruses than carnivore types.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Marine Mammal Health
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Morbilliviruses infect various animal species, including marine mammals and seals.
- Recent isolations of morbilliviruses from cetaceans (dolphins and porpoises) in European waters present a need for detailed characterization.
- Previous studies using monoclonal antibodies indicated differences between cetacean and phocine (seal) morbilliviruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To genetically characterize novel morbilliviruses isolated from cetaceans.
- To determine the evolutionary relationship of these cetacean morbilliviruses to other known morbilliviruses.
- To identify conserved regions for broad-spectrum morbillivirus detection.
Main Methods:
- Development of a "universal" primer set targeting conserved regions of the morbillivirus phosphoprotein (P) gene.
- Amplification of a specific gene region (surrounding the RNA editing site) from various morbillivirus members.
- Sequence analysis of the amplified P gene region to infer phylogenetic relationships.
Main Results:
- The universal primer set successfully amplified the target region from all tested morbilliviruses.
- Sequence analysis confirmed that the dolphin and porpoise viruses are genetically related to each other.
- These cetacean viruses form a distinct lineage, separate from carnivore and other known morbilliviruses.
- Phylogenetic analysis suggests a closer relationship to ruminant morbilliviruses than to carnivore morbilliviruses.
Conclusions:
- The newly identified cetacean morbilliviruses represent a distinct viral lineage.
- Genetic divergence supports their classification as separate from phocine distemper virus and other established morbilliviruses.
- The findings provide insights into morbillivirus evolution and host adaptation in marine environments.