title: Phylogenetic evidence for homologous recombination within the family Birnaviridae.
abstract: Birnaviruses are bi-segmented double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses infecting insects, avian species and a wide range of aquatic species. Although homologous recombination is a common phenomenon in positive-sense RNA viruses, recombination in dsRNA viruses is rarely reported. Here we performed a comprehensive survey on homologous recombination in all available sequences (>1800) of the family Birnaviridae based on phylogenetic incongruence. Although inter-species recombination was not evident, potential intra-species recombination events were detected in aquabirnaviruses and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Eight potential recombination events were identified and the possibility that these events were non-naturally occurring was assessed case by case. Five of the eight events were identified in IBDVs and all of these five events involved live attenuated vaccine strains. This finding suggests that homologous recombination between vaccine and wild-type IBDV strains may have occurred; the potential risk of mass vaccination using live vaccines is discussed. This is the first report of evidence for homologous recombination within the family Birnaviridae.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Chung-Chau
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hon
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Tommy Tsan-Yuk
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Chi-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Raymond Tsz-Yeung
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Mang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Jingwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Fanya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Frederick Chi-Ching
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019201:Aquabirnavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D018059:Birnaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase