Abstract

Lyssaviruses are neurotropic rhabdoviruses thought to be restricted to mammalian hosts, and to originate from bats. The identification of lyssavirus sequences from amphibians and reptiles by metatranscriptomics thus comes as a surprise and challenges the mammalian origin of lyssaviruses. The novel sequences of the proposed American tree frog lyssavirus (ATFLV) and anole lizard lyssavirus (ALLV) reveal substantial phylogenetic distances from each other and from bat lyssaviruses, with ATFLV being the most distant. As virus isolation has not been successful yet, we have here studied the functionality of the authentic ATFLV- and ALLV-encoded glycoproteins in the context of rabies virus pseudotype particles. Cryogenic electron microscopy uncovered the incorporation of the plasmid-encoded G proteins in viral envelopes. Infection experiments revealed the infectivity of ATFLV and ALLV G-coated RABV pp for a broad spectrum of cell lines from humans, bats, and reptiles, demonstrating membrane fusion activities. As presumed, ATFLV and ALLV G RABV pp escaped neutralization by human rabies immune sera. The present findings support the existence of contagious lyssaviruses in poikilothermic animals, and reveal a broad cell tropism in vitro, similar to that of the rabies virus.

Highlights

  • IntroductionThe hosts of lyssaviruses, a genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, are homothermic animals

  • According to textbooks, the hosts of lyssaviruses, a genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, are homothermic animals

  • Phylogroup II includes Lagos bat lyssavirus (LBV), Mokola lyssavirus (MOKV), and Shimoni bat lyssavirus (SHIBV) [7], and the most remote phylogroup III is represented by West Caucasian bat lyssavirus (WCBV) [8], Lleida bat lyssavirus (LLEBV) [9], and Ikoma lyssavirus (IKOV) which was isolated from terrestrial mammals only [10]

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Summary

Introduction

The hosts of lyssaviruses, a genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, are homothermic animals. Mokola and Ikoma lyssaviruses have been isolated exclusively from terrestrial mammals. Members of the genus are allocated to phylogroups, primarily according to the serologic cross-reactivity of the G proteins [4,5]. Phylogroup I so far comprises 11 lyssavirus species that show cross-neutralization by the antibodies of rabies vaccines [6]. Phylogroup II includes Lagos bat lyssavirus (LBV), Mokola lyssavirus (MOKV), and Shimoni bat lyssavirus (SHIBV) [7], and the most remote phylogroup III is represented by West Caucasian bat lyssavirus (WCBV) [8], Lleida bat lyssavirus (LLEBV) [9], and Ikoma lyssavirus (IKOV) which was isolated from terrestrial mammals only [10]

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