First isolation of an Entomobirnavirus from free-living insects

J Gen Virol. 2012 Nov;93(Pt 11):2431-2435. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.045435-0. Epub 2012 Aug 8.

Abstract

Drosophila X virus (DXV), the prototype Entomobirnavirus, is a well-studied RNA virus model. Its origin is unknown, and so is that of the only other entomobirnavirus, Espirito Santo virus (ESV). We isolated an entomobirnavirus tentatively named Culex Y virus (CYV) from hibernating Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes in Germany. CYV was detected in three pools consisting of 11 mosquitoes each. Full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses suggested that CYV and ESV define one sister species to DXV within the genus Entomobirnavirus. In contrast to the laboratory-derived ESV, the ORF5 initiation codon AUG was mutated to (1927)GUG in all three wild-type CYV isolates. Also in contrast to ESV, replication of CYV was not dependent on other viruses in insect cell culture. CYV could provide a wild-type counterpart in research fields relying on DXV and other cell culture-adapted strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Culex / virology*
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral
  • Entomobirnavirus / classification
  • Entomobirnavirus / genetics
  • Entomobirnavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Entomobirnavirus / pathogenicity
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / physiology
  • Genome, Viral
  • Phylogeny
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Viral Proteins