title: Characterization of a novel Negevirus and a novel Bunyavirus isolated from Culex (Culex) declarator mosquitoes in Trinidad.
abstract: Pools of mosquitoes were tested for insect-specific viruses using cytopathic effect (CPE) assays on Aedes albopictus (C6/36) cells. Illumina sequencing of RNA from pool TR7094, which produced extensive CPE 2 days post-infection, yielded the complete genome sequences of a previously unknown Bunyavirus, designated Cumuto virus (CUMV), and a second virus designated Wallerfield virus (WALV). WALV shared highest amino acid identity (60.1 %) with Dezidougou virus from Côte d'Ivoire, a positive-sense, single-strand RNA, insect-specific virus belonging to the newly proposed genus Negevirus associated with mosquitoes and phlebotomine sandflies. The S, M and L segments of CUMV were most closely related to those of Gouleako virus, also from Côte d'Ivoire (amino acid identities of 36 %, 38% and 54 % respectively). Neither virus produced CPE on vertebrate cells, or illness in newborn mice. Isolation and characterization of these viruses increase our knowledge of the geographical distribution, diversity and host range of mosquito-specific bunyaviruses and negeviruses.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Albert J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Auguste
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Christine V F
authors.initials: CVF
authors.lastname: Carrington
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Naomi L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Vsevolod L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Hilda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Widen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tesh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002043:Bunyaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002460:Cell Line; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral