title: Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA polymerase gene of a novel alphaherpesvirus isolated from an Indian Gyps vulture.
abstract: The DNA polymerase gene of a novel herpesvirus, vulture herpesvirus (VHV), isolated from an Indian Gyps vulture was completely sequenced using primer walking and transposon insertion strategies. DNA sequencing analysis revealed a single open reading frame (ORF) of 3660 nucleotides (53% G-C content) able to encode 1219 amino acids. Identification was based on a nucleotide sequence identity of approximately 50% to other herpesvirus sequences found in Genbank. Nine motifs were identified that are conserved amongst all known herpesviruses and are found within the 3'-5' exonuclease and DNA binding functional domains of the DNA polymerase enzyme. Phylogenetic analysis using Clustal W with neighbour-joining revealed VHV to group within the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, more closely related to the avian herpesviruses than to those of other species. Partial sequence data also revealed VHV to contain other genes fundamental to the structure and replication of all herpesvirus genomes. A Real Time PCR Taqman assay specific for the VHV DNA polymerase gene was designed to detect the presence of VHV genomic material in post mortem tissue samples from diseased birds. Positive tissues included the spleen, rectum, thymus, kidney and brain. A herpesvirus specific to vultures may pose a threat to the management of captive breeding programs being established to assist the survival of wild populations of Gyps vultures.
authors.affiliation: Australian Animal Health Laboratories, CSIRO Livestock Industries, Private Bag 24, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyatt
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selleck
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lowther
authors.forename: Vibhu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pain
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D018138:Alphaherpesvirinae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000821:virology*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D007668:Kidney / Q000821:virology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012007:Rectum / Q000821:virology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase