Complete sequence characterization of the genome of the St Croix River virus, a new orbivirus isolated from cells of Ixodes scapularis.
An orbivirus identified as St Croix River virus (SCRV) was isolated from cells of Ixodes scapularis ticks. Electron microscopy showed particles with typical orbivirus morphology. The SCRV genome was sequenced completely and compared to previously characterized orbivirus genomes. Significant identity scores (21-38%) were detected between proteins encoded by segments S1, S2, S4, S5, S6, S8, S9 and S10 of SCRV and those encoded by segments S1, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S9 and S10, respectively, of Bluetongue virus (BTV), the prototype orbivirus species. The protein encoded by SCRV genome segment 3 (VP3) is thought to be the equivalent of VP2 of BTV. Segment 7 encodes a protein homologous to non-structural protein NS2(ViP) of BTV. Analysis of VP1(Pol) (segment 1) shows that SCRV is an orbivirus, distantly related to the other sequenced species. Blot hybridizations and sequence comparisons of the conserved protein encoded by genome segment 2 (the T2 subcore shell protein) with previously identified orbiviruses confirm that SCRV is a distinct orbivirus species, unrelated to another tick-borne species, Great Island virus. The presence of SCRV in cells prepared from tick eggs suggests that transovarial transmission of SCRV may occur in ticks.
Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, EFS Alpes-Méditerranée1 and Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, Tropicale et Transfusionnelle2, Unité des Virus Emergents EA3292, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille cedex 5, France.
Houssam
H
Attoui
Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK3.
Julie M
JM
Stirling
Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA4.
Ulrike G
UG
Munderloh
Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, EFS Alpes-Méditerranée1 and Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, Tropicale et Transfusionnelle2, Unité des Virus Emergents EA3292, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille cedex 5, France.
Frédérique
F
Billoir
Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK3.
Sharon M
SM
Brookes
Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK3.
J Nicholas
JN
Burroughs
Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, EFS Alpes-Méditerranée1 and Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, Tropicale et Transfusionnelle2, Unité des Virus Emergents EA3292, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille cedex 5, France.
Philippe
P
de Micco
Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK3.
Peter P C
PPC
Mertens
Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, EFS Alpes-Méditerranée1 and Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, Tropicale et Transfusionnelle2, Unité des Virus Emergents EA3292, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille cedex 5, France.
Xavier
X
de Lamballerie
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D016679:Genome, Viral; D018884:Ixodes / Q000821:virology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018163:Orbivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors