title: Discovery of a novel circular DNA virus in the Forbes sea star, Asterias forbesi.
abstract: A single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) virus, Asterias forbesi-associated circular virus (AfaCV), was discovered in a Forbes sea star displaying symptoms of sea star wasting disease (SSWD). The AfaCV genome organization is typical of circular Rep-encoding ssDNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses and is similar to that of members of the family Circoviridae. PCR-based surveys indicate that AfaCV is not clearly associated with SSWD, whereas the sea star-associated densovirus (SSaDV), recently implicated in SSWD in the Pacific, was prevalent in symptomatic specimens. AfaCV represents the first CRESS-DNA virus detected in echinoderms, adding to the growing diversity of these viruses recently recovered from invertebrates.
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fahsbender
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hewson
authors.forename: Karyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rosario
authors.forename: Allison D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tuttle
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varsani
authors.forename: Mya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breitbart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047271:Asterias / Q000821:virology*; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D023061:Gene Order; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004279:DNA, Viral