title: LR1: a candidate RNA virus of Leishmania.
abstract: Although viruses are important biological agents and useful molecular tools, little is known about the viruses of parasites. We report here the discovery of a candidate for an RNA virus in a kinetoplastid parasite. This potential virus, which we term LR1, is present in the promastigote form of the human pathogen Leishmania braziliensis guyanensis CUMC1-1A but not in 11 other stocks of Leishmania that were examined nor in Trypanosoma brucei. The candidate viral RNA has a size of approximately 6000 nucleotides, is single-stranded, and is largely, if not exclusively, located in the cytoplasm. No homologous LR1 sequences are detected in genomic DNA. The candidate viral RNA is associated with a spherical particle 32 nm in diameter that has a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 130 S. There is as yet no evident effect of this potential virus on parasite physiology or the disease caused by the parasite.
authors.affiliation: Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, WA 98109-1651.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Tarr
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Aline
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Smiley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scholler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keithly
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stuart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007891:Leishmania / Q000382:microbiology*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000032:analysis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic