Evidence for a novel partitivirus isolated from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema ceratophorum.

Shuangchao Wang,Jianhua Nie,Irfan Ahmed,Lihua Guo,Xianhui Li

doi:10.1007/s00705-021-05314-5

Abstract

Nematodes are abundant, but little is known about their viruses. In this study, we report a novel partitivirus isolated from the entomopathogenic nematode species Steinernema ceratophorum, named "Steinernema ceratophorum partitivirus 1" (ScPV-1). The complete genome of ScPV-1 comprises two dsRNA segments, dsRNA1 (2352 bp) and dsRNA2 (2196 bp). Each dsRNA contains a single open reading frame (ORF), encoding a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a coat protein (CP), respectively. The sequences of the RdRp and CP showed the highest similarity (47% and 33% identity, respectively) to Plasmopara viticola associated partitivirus 7 (PvAP-7). A multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp of ScPV-1 and other selected viruses indicated that ScPV-1 is a new member of the genus Betapartitivirus in the family Partitiviridae.

Highlights

Nematodes were one group of organisms that were previously thought to be immune to viral infections and has not been adequately explored for infectious viruses
We report a novel partitivirus isolated from Entomopathogenic nematode specie “Steinernema ceratophorum, named as Steinernema ceratophorum Partiti-like Virus 1 (ScPV1)
Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of ScPV1 with other selected viruses indicated that ScPV1 is the new member of genus Betapartitivirus in the family Partitiviridae

Summary

Introduction

Nematodes were one group of organisms that were previously thought to be immune to viral infections and has not been adequately explored for infectious viruses. We report a novel partitivirus isolated from Entomopathogenic nematode specie “Steinernema ceratophorum, named as Steinernema ceratophorum Partiti-like Virus 1 (ScPV1). Both dsRNAs contained a single open reading frame (ORF), encoding a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a coat protein (CP), respectively. The sequences of the RdRp and CP showed the highest similarity (47% and 33% identity, respectively) to Plasmopara viticola associated Partitivirus 7.

Results

Conclusion