title: Capripoxvirus G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor: a host-range gene suitable for virus animal origin discrimination.
abstract: The genus Capripoxvirus within the family Poxviridae comprises three closely related viruses, namely goat pox, sheep pox and lumpy skin disease viruses. This nomenclature is based on the animal species from which the virus was first isolated, respectively, goat, sheep and cattle. Since capripoxviruses are serologically identical, their specific identification relies exclusively on the use of molecular tools. We describe here the suitability of the G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor (GPCR) gene for use in host-range grouping of capripoxviruses. The analysis of 58 capripoxviruses showed three tight genetic clusters consisting of goat pox, sheep pox and lumpy skin disease viruses. However, a few discrepancies exist with the classical virus-host origin nomenclature: a virus isolated from sheep is grouped in the goat poxvirus clade and vice versa. Intra-group diversity was further observed for the goat pox and lumpy skin disease virus isolates. Despite the presence of nine vaccine strains, no genetic determinants of virulence were identified on the GPCR gene. For sheep poxviruses, the addition or deletion of 21 nucleic acids (7 aa) was consistently observed in the 5' terminal part of the gene. Specific signatures for each cluster were also identified. Prediction of the capripoxvirus GPCR topology, and its comparison with other known mammalian GPCRs and viral homologues, revealed not only a classical GPCR profile in the last three-quarters of the protein but also unique features such as a longer N-terminal end with a proximal hydrophobic alpha-helix and a shorter serine-rich C-tail.
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR Contrôle des Maladies, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Goff
authors.affiliation: Animal Production Unit, FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories Seibersdorf, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, PO Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Charles Euloge
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lamien
authors.affiliation: IRVT, La Rabta, 1006 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fakhfakh
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR Contrôle des Maladies, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chadeyras
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Elexpeter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aba-Adulugba
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR Contrôle des Maladies, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Libeau
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Woking, Surrey GU24 ONF, UK.
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuppurainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X4, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.|Biotechnology Division, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Department of Viral Vaccines Production, Central Veterinary Research Laboratories Centre, Animal Resources Research Corporation, Ministry of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Tajelser
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Security, Robert Koch Gasse 17, A-2340 Mödling, Austria.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silber
authors.affiliation: Pendik Veterinary Control and Research Institute, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Velý
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gulyaz
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Médecine Vétérinaire, Laboratoire Central Vétérinaire d'Alger, BP 205 Hacen Badi, El Harrach, Alger, Algeria.
authors.forename: Hafsa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Madani
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR Contrôle des Maladies, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caufour
authors.affiliation: IRVT, La Rabta, 1006 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.affiliation: Animal Production Unit, FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories Seibersdorf, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, PO Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR Contrôle des Maladies, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albina