Identification of a novel ectromelia virus from rodent: Implications for use as an in vivo infection model for vaccine and antiviral research.

ABSTRACT: Ectromelia virus (ECTV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, serves as both a causative agent of mousepox and a pivotal surrogate model for studying highly pathogenic orthopoxviruses. Although genomic data on ECTV remains limited, we report the isolation and characterization of a novel strain, ECTV-C-Tan-GD01, obtained from rodents in Guangdong Province, China. Nanopore sequencing yielded a complete genome (199 annotated genes, including one gene truncated at the C-terminus) with inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) harboring a conserved hairpin structure. Notably, a frameshift-inducing "G" deletion in the EV159 gene resulted in the truncation of a semaphorin-like protein. In vitro assays demonstrated cell-associated viral replication kinetics, with maximum titers achieved earlier in Vero/HeL

SUBMITTER: Huo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12414390 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature