title: Diverse small circular DNA viruses circulating amongst estuarine molluscs.
abstract: Our understanding of the diversity and abundance of circular replication associated protein (Rep) - encoding single stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses has increased considerably over the last few years due to a combination of modern sequencing technologies and new molecular tools. Studies have used these to identify and recover CRESS DNA viruses from a range of different marine organisms, including copepods, shrimp and molluscs. In our study we identified 79 novel CRESS DNA viruses from three mollusc species (Austrovenus stutchburyi, Paphies subtriangulata and Amphibola crenata) and benthic sediments from the Avon-Heathcote estuary in Christchurch, New Zealand. The genomes recovered have varying genome architectures, with all encoding at least two major ORFs that have either unidirectional or bidirectional organisation. Analysis of the Reps of the viral genomes showed they are all highly diverse, with only one Rep sequence sharing 65% amino acid identity with the Rep of gastropod-associated circular DNA virus (GaCSV). Our study adds significantly to the wealth of CRESS DNA viruses recovered from freshwater and marine environments and extends our knowledge of the distribution of these viruses.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Anisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dayaram
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sharyn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldstien
authors.affiliation: División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, 78216 San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico.
authors.forename: Gerardo R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Argüello-Astorga
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zawar-Reza
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jon S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Biomolecular Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Electron Microscope Unit, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Department of Plant Pathology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: arvind.varsani@canterbury.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varsani
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004270:DNA, Circular; D023061:Gene Order; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005843:Geography; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008974:Mollusca / Q000821:virology*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular
keywords: Amphibola crenata; Austrovenus stutchburyi; CRESS DNA viruses; Circular DNA viruses; Molluscs; Paphies subtriangulata