title: Complete genome sequence of a Megalocytivirus (family Iridoviridae) associated with turbot mortality in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Turbot reddish body iridovirus (TRBIV) causes serious systemic diseases with high mortality in the cultured turbot, Scophthalmus maximus. We here sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of TRBIV, which was identified in Shandong province, China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genome of TRBIV is a linear double-stranded DNA of 110,104 base pairs, comprising 55% G + C. Total 115 open reading frames were identified, encoding polypeptides ranging from 40 to 1168 amino acids. Amino acid sequences analysis revealed that 39 of the 115 potential gene products of TRBIV show significant homology to other iridovirus proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of conserved genes indicated that TRBIV is closely related to infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), rock bream iridovirus (RBIV), orange-spotted grouper iridovirus (OSGIV), and large yellow croaker iridovirus (LYCIV). The results indicated that TRBIV belongs to the genus Megalocytivirus (family Iridoviridae).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The determination of the genome of TRBIV will provide useful information for comparative study of Megalocytivirus and developing strategies to control outbreaks of TRBIV-induced disease.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Marine Fisheries Resource, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Kun-Tong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D005412:Flatfishes; D016679:Genome, Viral; D007497:Iridoviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny