Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara 06100, Turkey.
Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, İzmir 35890, Turkey.
Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2020 Sep;11(5):101448. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101448. Epub 2020 May 11.
We conducted orthonairovirus RNA screening of 7043 tick specimens-representing 16 species-collected from various regions of Anatolia. In 602 pools, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) Europe 1 and 2 lineages were detected in seven pools (1.1 %) comprising Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma scupense, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks. In pools of Hyalomma aegyptium, we detected Tamdy virus (TAMV) and an unclassified nairovirus sequence. Next-generation sequencing revealed complete coding regions of three CCHFV Europe 2 (AP92-like) viruses, TAMV and the novel orthonairovirus, tentatively named herein as Meram virus. We further performed in silico functional analysis of all available CCHFV Europe 2, TAMV, Meram and related virus genomes. The CCHFV Europe 2 viruses possessed several conserved motifs, including those with OTU-like cysteine protease activity. Probable recombinations were identified in L genome segments of CCHFV and TAMV. Through phylogeny reconstruction using individual genome segments, Meram virus emerged as a distinct virus among species within the Orthonairovirus genus. It further exhibited conserved motifs associated with RNA binding, encapsidation, signal peptidase cleavage, post-translational modification, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and OTU-like activities. Bole tick virus 3 was also detected in two pools with CCHFV reactivity. Hereby, we describe a novel tick-associated orthonairovirus, in a CCHFV-endemic region with confirmed TAMV activity. Human and animal health impact of these viruses need to be addressed.
我们对来自安纳托利亚不同地区的 7043 份蜱标本（代表 16 个物种）进行了 orthonairovirus RNA 筛查。在 602 个池中，在包含硬蜱属、扇头蜱属、璃眼蜱属、血红扇头蜱属和土耳其斯坦璃眼蜱属的七个池（1.1%）中检测到克里米亚-刚果出血热病毒（CCHFV）欧洲 1 和 2 谱系。在埃及璃眼蜱属的池中，我们检测到 Tamdy 病毒（TAMV）和一种未分类的纳罗病毒序列。下一代测序揭示了三种 CCHFV 欧洲 2（AP92 样）病毒、TAMV 和新型 orthonairovirus 的完整编码区，暂命名为 Meram 病毒。我们进一步对所有可用的 CCHFV 欧洲 2、TAMV、Meram 和相关病毒基因组进行了计算机功能分析。CCHFV 欧洲 2 病毒具有几个保守的基序，包括具有 OTU 样半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性的基序。在 CCHFV 和 TAMV 的 L 基因组片段中鉴定到可能的重组。通过使用单个基因组片段进行系统发育重建，Meram 病毒在 Orthonairovirus 属内的种间作为一种独特的病毒出现。它进一步显示出与 RNA 结合、囊膜化、信号肽切割、翻译后修饰、RNA 依赖性 RNA 聚合酶和 OTU 样活性相关的保守基序。在具有 CCHFV 反应性的两个池中也检测到 Bole tick virus 3。在此，我们描述了一种在确认 TAMV 活性的 CCHFV 流行地区发现的新型蜱相关 orthonairovirus。需要解决这些病毒对人类和动物健康的影响。
