School of Veterinary Science, College of Life, Environment, and Advanced Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan.
Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan.
J Vet Med Sci. 2024 Nov 15;86(11):1205-1211. doi: 10.1292/jvms.24-0295. Epub 2024 Oct 8.
Ephemeroviruses, belonging to the genus Ephemerovirus within the family Rhabdoviridae of the Mononegavirales, are non-segmented, negative-strand RNA viruses that infect artiodactyls and blood-sucking arthropods. Although recent advances in sequencing technology have facilitated the identification of novel ephemeroviruses, thereby expanding our understanding of this viral genus, their diversity remains elusive, as evidenced by phylogenetic gaps between currently known ephemeroviruses. In this study, we analyzed publicly available RNA-seq data and identified a novel ephemerovirus, tentatively named Punjab virus (PBV), in a water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis [Linnaeus, 1758]). We obtained two separate PBV contigs from the RNA-seq data; the first contig covers the N, P, and M genes, while the second contig covers the G, α, β, γ, and L genes. Together, these PBV contigs represent 99% of the estimated complete viral genome. Mapping analysis revealed a typical transcriptional gradient pattern commonly observed in mononegaviruses, suggesting that the water buffalo is the authentic host for PBV. Sequence comparisons with its closest relatives indicate that the newly identified virus meets the ICTV species demarcation criteria for sequence divergence. Thus, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the diversity of ephemeroviruses.
弹状病毒科（Rhabdoviridae）正粘病毒目（Mononegavirales）的弹状病毒属（Ephemerovirus）是一类非节段、负链 RNA 病毒，感染偶蹄目动物和吸血节肢动物。尽管测序技术的最新进展促进了新型弹状病毒的鉴定，从而扩展了我们对该病毒属的认识，但由于目前已知的弹状病毒之间存在系统发育间隙，其多样性仍然难以捉摸。在本研究中，我们分析了公开可用的 RNA-seq 数据，在水牛（Bubalus bubalis [Linnaeus, 1758]）中鉴定出一种新型弹状病毒，暂定名为旁遮普病毒（PBV）。我们从 RNA-seq 数据中获得了两个单独的 PBV 连续体；第一个连续体覆盖 N、P 和 M 基因，第二个连续体覆盖 G、α、β、γ 和 L 基因。这两个 PBV 连续体共同代表了估计的完整病毒基因组的 99%。映射分析显示出在单负链病毒中常见的典型转录梯度模式，表明水牛是 PBV 的真实宿主。与最接近的亲缘病毒的序列比较表明，新鉴定的病毒符合 ICTV 物种划分标准的序列差异。因此，本研究有助于更深入地了解弹状病毒的多样性。
