RESUMO
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a rapidly spreading re-emergent virus transmitted from mosquitoes to humans. The emergence of epidemic variants has been associated with changes in the viral genome, such as the duplication of repeated sequences in the 3' untranslated region (UTR). Indeed, blocks of repeated sequences seemingly favor RNA recombination, providing the virus with a unique ability to continuously change the 3'UTR architecture during host switching. In this work, we provide experimental data on the molecular mechanism of RNA recombination and describe specific sequence and structural elements in the viral 3'UTR that favor template switching of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase on the 3'UTR. Furthermore, we found that a 3'UTR deletion mutant that exhibits markedly delayed replication in mosquito cells and impaired transmission in vivo, recombines in reference laboratory strains of mosquitoes. Altogether, our data provide novel experimental evidence indicating that RNA recombination can act as a nucleic acid repair mechanism to add repeated sequences that are associated to high viral fitness in mosquito during chikungunya virus replication.
Assuntos
Regiões 3' não Traduzidas , Vírus Chikungunya , Genoma Viral , RNA Viral , Recombinação Genética , Replicação Viral , Vírus Chikungunya/genética , Regiões 3' não Traduzidas/genética , RNA Viral/genética , RNA Viral/metabolismo , Animais , Replicação Viral/genética , Febre de Chikungunya/virologia , Febre de Chikungunya/genética , Febre de Chikungunya/transmissão , Humanos , Aedes/virologia , Aedes/genética , RNA Polimerase Dependente de RNA/genética , RNA Polimerase Dependente de RNA/metabolismo , Linhagem CelularRESUMO
The Equid alphaherpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection can have devastating economic consequences in the horse industry due to large-scale outbreaks of abortions, perinatal foal mortality, and myeloencephalopathy. The present study analyzed the genome of two isolates obtained from aborted fetuses in Argentina, E/745/99 and E/1297/07. The E745/99 genome shares 98.2% sequence identity with Ab4, a reference EHV-1 strain. The E/1297/07 genome shares 99.8% identity with NY03, a recombinant strain containing part of ORF64 and part of the intergenic region from Equid alphaherpesvirus-4 (EHV-4). The E/1297/07 genome has the same breakpoints as other United States and Japanese recombinants, including NY03. The recombinant regions have varying numbers of tandem repeat sequences and different minor parental sequences (EHV-4), suggesting distinct origins of the recombinant events. These are the first complete genomes of EHV-1 from Argentina and South America available in the Databases.
Assuntos
Genoma Viral , Infecções por Herpesviridae , Herpesvirus Equídeo 1 , Filogenia , Argentina , Herpesvirus Equídeo 1/genética , Herpesvirus Equídeo 1/isolamento & purificação , Herpesvirus Equídeo 1/classificação , Animais , Genoma Viral/genética , Infecções por Herpesviridae/veterinária , Infecções por Herpesviridae/virologia , Cavalos/virologia , Recombinação Genética , Doenças dos Cavalos/virologia , Fases de Leitura Aberta/genética , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma , DNA Viral/genéticaRESUMO
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019, more than 12,000 mutations in the virus have been identified. These could cause changes in viral characteristics and directly impact global public health. The emergence of variants is a great concern due to the chance of increased transmissibility and infectivity. Sequencing for surveillance and monitoring circulating strains is extremely necessary as the early identification of new variants allows public health agencies to make faster and more effective decisions to contain the spread of the virus. In the present study, we identified circulating variants in samples collected in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and detected a recombinant lineage using the Sanger method. The identification of lineages was done through gene amplification of SARS-CoV-2 by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). By using these specific fragments, we were able to differentiate one variant of interest and five circulating variants of concern. We were also able to detect recombinants. Randomly selected samples were sequenced by either Sanger or Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Our findings validate the effectiveness of Sanger sequencing as a powerful tool for monitoring variants. It is easy to perform and allows the analysis of a larger number of samples in countries that cannot afford NGS.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2/genética , SARS-CoV-2/classificação , SARS-CoV-2/isolamento & purificação , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/virologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala/métodos , Monitoramento Epidemiológico , Recombinação Genética , Filogenia , RNA Viral/genética , MutaçãoRESUMO
Toxoplasma gondii is a global protozoan pathogen. Clonal lineages predominate in Europe, North America, Africa, and China, whereas highly recombinant parasites are endemic in South/Central America. Far East Asian T. gondii isolates are not included in current global population genetic structure analyses at WGS resolution. Here we report a genome-wide population study that compared eight Japanese and two Chinese isolates against representative worldwide T. gondii genomes using POPSICLE, a novel population structure analyzing software. Also included were 7 genomes resurrected from non-viable isolates by target enrichment sequencing. Visualization of the genome structure by POPSICLE shows a mixture of Chinese haplogroup (HG) 13 haploblocks introgressed within the genomes of Japanese HG2 and North American HG12. Furthermore, two ancestral lineages were identified in the Japanese strains; one lineage shares a common ancestor with HG11 found in both Japanese strains and North American HG12. The other ancestral lineage, found in T. gondii isolates from a small island in Japan, is admixed with genetically diversified South/Central American strains. Taken together, this study suggests multiple ancestral links between Far East Asian and American T. gondii strains and provides insight into the transmission history of this cosmopolitan organism.
Assuntos
Genoma de Protozoário , Filogenia , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/classificação , Humanos , América do Norte , Genoma de Protozoário/genética , Toxoplasmose/parasitologia , China , América Central , Japão , Haplótipos , Variação Genética , Recombinação GenéticaRESUMO
The Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arbovirus with emerging potential, though with a limited understanding of its epidemiology and evolution due to the lack of studies and surveillance. Here, we investigated 71 MAYV genome sequences from the Americas available at GenBank and characterized the phylogenetic relationship among virus strains. A phylogenetic analysis showed that sequences were grouped according to the genotypes L, D, and N. Genotype D sequences were closely related to sequences collected in adjacent years and from their respective countries, suggesting that isolates may have originated from circulating lineages. The coalescent analysis demonstrated similar results, indicating the continuous circulation of the virus between countries as well. An unidentified sequence from the USA was grouped with genotype D, suggesting the insertion of this genotype in the country. Furthermore, the recombination analysis detected homologous and three heterologous hybrids which presented an insertion into the nsP3 protein. Amino acid substitutions among sequences indicated selective pressure sites, suggesting viral adaptability. This also impacted the binding affinity between the E1-E2 protein complex and the Mxra8 receptor, associated with MAYV entry into human cells. These results provide information for a better understanding of genotypes circulating in the Americas.
Assuntos
Evolução Molecular , Variação Genética , Genoma Viral , Genótipo , Filogenia , América/epidemiologia , Humanos , Alphavirus/genética , Alphavirus/classificação , Alphavirus/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Recombinação Genética , Infecções por Alphavirus/virologia , Infecções por Alphavirus/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous gammaherpesvirus etiologically associated with benign and malignant diseases. Since the pathogenic mechanisms of EBV are not fully understood, understanding EBV genetic diversity is an ongoing goal. Therefore, the present work describes the genetic diversity of the lytic gene BZLF1 in a sampling of 70 EBV-positive cases from southeastern Brazil. Additionally, together with the genetic regions previously characterized, the aim of the present study was to determine the impact of viral genetic factors that may influence EBV genetic diversity. Accordingly, the phylogenetic analysis of the BZLF1 indicated two main clades with high support, BZ-A and BZ-B (PP > 0.85). Thus, the BZ-A clade was the most diverse clade associated with the main polymorphisms investigated, including the haplotype Type 1 + V3 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the multigene phylogenetic analysis (MLA) between BZLF1 and the oncogene LMP1 showed specific clusters, revealing haplotypic segregation that previous single-gene phylogenies from both genes failed to demonstrate. Surprisingly, the LMP1 Raji-related variant clusters were shown to be more diverse, associated with BZ-A/B and the Type 2/1 + V3 haplotypes. Finally, due to the high haplotypic diversity of the Raji-related variants, the number of DNA recombination-inducing motifs (DRIMs) was evaluated within the different clusters defined by the MLA. Similarly, the haplotype BZ-A + Raji was shown to harbor a greater number of DRIMs (p < 0.001). These results call attention to the high haplotype diversity of EBV in southeast Brazil and strengthen the hypothesis of the recombinant potential of South American Raji-related variants via the LMP1 oncogene.
Assuntos
Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr , Variação Genética , Herpesvirus Humano 4 , Filogenia , Recombinação Genética , Herpesvirus Humano 4/genética , Humanos , Brasil , Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr/virologia , Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr/genética , Transativadores/genética , Masculino , Feminino , Haplótipos/genética , Adulto , Proteínas da Matriz Viral/genética , Criança , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adolescente , Latência Viral/genética , Pré-Escolar , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant global health challenge, affecting millions of people worldwide, with chronic infection a persistent threat. Despite the advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), challenges in diagnosis and treatment remain, compounded by the lack of an effective vaccine. The HCV genome, characterized by high genetic variability, consists of eight distinct genotypes and over ninety subtypes, underscoring the complex dynamics of the virus within infected individuals. This study delves into the intriguing realm of HCV genetic diversity, specifically exploring the phenomenon of mixed infections and the subsequent detection of recombinant forms within the conserved internal ribosome entry site (IRES) region. Previous studies have identified recombination as a rare event in HCV. However, our findings challenge this notion by providing the first evidence of 1a/3a (and vice versa) inter-genotypic recombination within the conserved IRES region. Utilizing advanced sequencing methods, such as deep sequencing and molecular cloning, our study reveals mixed infections involving genotypes 1a and 3a. This comprehensive approach not only confirmed the presence of mixed infections, but also identified the existence of recombinant forms not previously seen in the IRES region. The recombinant sequences, although present as low-frequency variants, open new avenues for understanding HCV evolution and adaptation.
Assuntos
Genótipo , Hepacivirus , Hepatite C , Sítios Internos de Entrada Ribossomal , RNA Viral , Recombinação Genética , Hepacivirus/genética , Hepacivirus/classificação , Sítios Internos de Entrada Ribossomal/genética , Humanos , Hepatite C/virologia , RNA Viral/genética , Coinfecção/virologia , Genoma Viral , Variação Genética , Filogenia , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga EscalaRESUMO
Knowing how chromosome recombination works is essential for plant breeding. It enables the design of crosses between different varieties to combine desirable traits and create new ones. This is because the meiotic crossovers between homologous chromatids are not purely random, and various strategies have been developed to describe and predict such exchange events. Recent studies have used methylation data to predict chromosomal recombination in rice using machine learning models. This approach proved successful due to the presence of a positive correlation between the CHH context cytosine methylation and recombination rates in rice chromosomes. This paper assesses the question if methylation can be used to predict recombination in four plant species: Arabidopsis, maize, sorghum, and tomato. The results indicate a positive association between CHH context methylation and recombination rates in certain plant species, with varying degrees of strength in their relationships. The CG and CHG methylation contexts show negative correlation with recombination. Methylation data was key effectively in predicting recombination in sorghum and tomato, with a mean determination coefficient of 0.65 ± 0.11 and 0.76 ± 0.05, respectively. In addition, the mean correlation values between predicted and experimental recombination rates were 0.83 ± 0.06 for sorghum and 0.90 ± 0.05 for tomato, confirming the significance of methylomes in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species. The predictions for Arabidopsis and maize were not as accurate, likely due to the comparatively weaker relationships between methylation contexts and recombination, in contrast to sorghum and tomato, where stronger associations were observed. To enhance the accuracy of predictions, further evaluations using data sets closely related to each other might prove beneficial. In general, this methylome-based method holds great potential as a reliable strategy for predicting recombination rates in various plant species, offering valuable insights to breeders in their quest to develop novel and improved varieties.
Assuntos
Arabidopsis , Arabidopsis/genética , Epigenoma , Melhoramento Vegetal , Metilação de DNA , Plantas/genética , Recombinação Genética/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de PlantasRESUMO
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily, causes varicella in primary infections and establishing a latent stage in sensory ganglia. Upon reactivation, VZV causes herpes zoster with severe neuralgia, especially in elderly patients. The mutation rate for VZV is comparatively lower than the other members of other alpha herpesviruses. Due to geographic isolation, different genotypes of VZV are circulating on separate continents. Here, we successfully isolated a VZV from the vesicular fluid of a youth zoster patient. Based on the single-nucleotide polymorphism profiles of different open reading frames that define the genotype, this newly isolated VZV primarily represents genotype clade 2 but also has characteristics of genotype clade 1. The next-generation sequencing provided a nearly full-length sequence, and further phylogenetic analysis revealed that this VZV isolate is distinct from clades 1 and 2. The Recombination Detection Program indicates that a possible recombinant event may occur between the VZV isolate and clade 1. In summary, we found that there is a circulating VZV isolate in China that may represent a recombinant between clade 1 and clade 2, providing new concerns that need to be considered in the future VZV vaccination program.
Assuntos
Herpes Zoster , Herpesvirus Humano 3 , Adolescente , Humanos , Idoso , Herpesvirus Humano 3/genética , Filogenia , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , China , Recombinação Genética , GenômicaRESUMO
IMPORTANCE: Modern smallpox vaccines, such as those used against mpox, are made from vaccinia viruses, but it is still unknown whether cowpox, horsepox, or vaccinia viruses were used in the early 20th century or earlier. The mystery began to be solved when the genomes of six historical smallpox vaccines used in the United States from 1850 to 1902 were determined. Our work analyzed in detail the genomes of these six historical vaccines, revealing a complex genomic structure. Historical vaccines are highly similar to horsepox in the core of their genomes, but some are closer to the structure of vaccinia virus at the ends of the genome. One of the vaccines is a recombinant virus with parts of variola virus recombined into its genome. Our data add valuable information for understanding the evolutionary path of current smallpox vaccines and the genetic makeup of the potentially extinct group of horsepox viruses.