title: Genetic variability of the small t antigen of the novel KI, WU and MC polyomaviruses.
abstract: Recently, three novel human polyomaviruses were discovered: KIPyV, WUPyV and MCPyV. To study the genetic variability of these viruses, an evolutionary analysis of the large T antigen, small t antigen, VP1, VP2 and VP3 genes was carried out. Of the genes analyzed, only the small t antigen of KIPyV and MCPyV was found to be under statistically supported selective pressure. In KIPyV, 31 selected sites were found under positive selection (ω(2) = 1.54), with posterior probabilities above 0.75. Of these sites, 17 are located in the J domain and two of these are located in the HPDGG box. Thirteen of these sites were identified as being under positive selection at the 99% confidence level. Moreover, seven codons were under significant purifying selection, particularly in the J domain. In MCPyV, we confirmed the five sites already found to be under positive selection (posterior probabilities 0.99). Selective pressure analysis may provide useful information on viral evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, Rome, Italy. massimo.ciccozzi@iss.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccozzi
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babakir-Mina
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Presti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farchi
authors.forename: Gianguglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zehender
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ebranati
authors.forename: Carlo Federico
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Perno
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciotti
mesh_terms: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D014764:Viral Proteins