title: New Type of Papillomavirus and Novel Circular Single Stranded DNA Virus Discovered in Urban Rattus norvegicus Using Circular DNA Enrichment and Metagenomics.
abstract: Rattus norvegicus (R. norvegicus) are ubiquitous and their presence has several effects on the human populations in our urban areas on a global scale. Both historically and presently, this close interaction has facilitated the dissemination of many pathogens to humans, making screening for potentially zoonotic and emerging viruses in rats highly relevant. We have investigated faecal samples from R. norvegicus collected from urban areas using a protocol based on metagenomic enrichment of circular DNA genomes and subsequent sequencing. We found a new type of papillomavirus, with a L1 region 82% identical to that of the known R. norvegicus Papillomavirus 2. Additionally, we found 20 different circular replication associated protein (Rep)-encoding single stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) virus-like genomes, one of which has homology to the replication-associated gene of Beak and feather disease virus. Papillomaviruses are a group of viruses known for their carcinogenic potential, and although they are known to infect several different vertebrates, they are mainly studied and characterised in humans. CRESS-DNA viruses are found in many different environments and tissue types. Both papillomaviruses and CRESS-DNA viruses are known to have pathogenic potential and screening for novel and known viruses in R. norvegicus could help identify viruses with pathogenic potential.
authors.affiliation: Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas Arn
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fridholm
authors.affiliation: Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tobias Guldberg
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Frøslev
authors.affiliation: Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristín Rós
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kjartansdóttir
authors.affiliation: Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Eske
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Willerslev
authors.affiliation: Department of Autoimmunology and Biomarkers, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300, Copenhagen S, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars Peter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders Johannes
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002947:Cities; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D056186:Metagenomics / Q000379:methods*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D051381:Rats; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded