Evolutionary and phenotypic analysis of live virus isolates suggests arthropod origin of a pathogenic RNA virus family.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary origins of arboviruses are unknown because their typical dual host tropism is paraphyletic within viral families. Here we studied one of the most diversified and medically relevant RNA virus families, the Bunyaviridae, in which four of five established genera are transmitted by arthropods. We define two cardinally novel bunyavirus groups based on live isolation of 26 viral strains from mosquitoes (Jonchet virus [JONV], eight strains; Ferak virus [FERV], 18 strains). Both viruses were incapable of replicating at vertebrate-typical temperatures but replicated efficiently in insect cells. Replication involved formation of virion-sense RNA (vRNA) and mRNA, including cap-snatching activity. SDS/PAGE, mass spectrometry, and Edman degradation identified translation products corre

SUBMITTER: Marklewitz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4475995 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature