A novel totivirus-like virus isolated from bat guano

Arch Virol. 2012 Jun;157(6):1093-9. doi: 10.1007/s00705-012-1278-y. Epub 2012 Mar 17.

Abstract

Previous metagenomic analysis indicated that numerous insect viruses exist in bat guano. In this study, we isolated a novel double-stranded RNA virus, a tentative member of the family Totiviridae, designated Tianjin totivirus (ToV-TJ), from bat feces. The virus is an icosahedral particle with a diameter of 40-43 nm, and it causes cytopathic effect in Sf9, Hz, and C6/36 cell lines. Full-length genomic sequence analysis showed that ToV-TJ shares high similarity with the totivirus OMRV-AK4, which was recently isolated from mosquitoes in Japan. The full-length genome of the ToV-TJ was 7611 bp and contained two predicted non-overlapping open reading frames (ORFs): ORF1, encoding the capsid protein (CP), and ORF2, encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Bioassay of ToV-TJ by feeding on the larvae of Spodoptera exigua and Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) suggests that this virus is not infectious for these two larvae in vivo. Sequences similar to that of ToV-TJ have been detected in bat feces sampled in Yunnan and Hainan Provinces, suggesting that this virus is widely distributed.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • China
  • Chiroptera / virology*
  • Feces / virology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Phylogeny
  • Totiviridae / classification*
  • Totiviridae / genetics
  • Totiviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Viral Proteins