Phylogenetic evidence for homologous recombination within the family Birnaviridae.
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.
Hon
Chung-Chau
CC
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Lam
Tommy Tsan-Yuk
TT
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Yip
Chi-Wai
CW
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Wong
Raymond Tsz-Yeung
RT
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Shi
Mang
M
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Jiang
Jingwei
J
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Zeng
Fanya
F
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Leung
Frederick Chi-Ching
FC
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
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
D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase