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Malmberg JL, Lee JS, Gagne RB, Kraberger S, Kechejian S, Roelke M, McBride R, Onorato D, Cunningham M, Crooks KR, VandeWoude S. Altered lentiviral infection dynamics follow genetic rescue of the Florida panther. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191689. [PMID: 31640509 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife translocations are a commonly used strategy in endangered species recovery programmes. Although translocations require detailed assessment of risk, their impact on parasite distribution has not been thoroughly assessed. This is despite the observation that actions that alter host-parasite distributions can drive evolution or introduce new parasites to previously sequestered populations. Here, we use a contemporary approach to amplify viral sequences from archived biological samples to characterize a previously undocumented impact of the successful genetic rescue of the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). Our efforts reveal transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) during translocation of pumas from Texas to Florida, resulting in extirpation of a historic Florida panther FIV subtype and expansion of a genetically stable subtype that is highly conserved in Texas and Florida. We used coalescent theory to estimate viral demography across time and show an exponential increase in the effective population size of FIV coincident with expansion of the panther population. Additionally, we show that FIV isolates from Texas are basal to isolates from Florida. Interestingly, FIV genomes recovered from Florida and Texas demonstrate exceptionally low interhost divergence. Low host genomic diversity and lack of additional introgressions may underlie the surprising lack of FIV evolution over 2 decades. We conclude that modern FIV in the Florida panther disseminated following genetic rescue and rapid population expansion, and that infectious disease risks should be carefully considered during conservation efforts involving translocations. Further, viral evolutionary dynamics may be significantly altered by ecological niche, host diversity and connectivity between host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Malmberg
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Justin S Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Roderick B Gagne
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Simona Kraberger
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Sarah Kechejian
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Dave Onorato
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Naples, FL, USA
| | - Mark Cunningham
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kevin R Crooks
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sue VandeWoude
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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2
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Konno Y, Nagaoka S, Kimura I, Yamamoto K, Kagawa Y, Kumata R, Aso H, Ueda MT, Nakagawa S, Kobayashi T, Koyanagi Y, Sato K. New World feline APOBEC3 potently controls inter-genus lentiviral transmission. Retrovirology 2018; 15:31. [PMID: 29636069 PMCID: PMC5894237 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-018-0414-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3; A3) gene family appears only in mammalian genomes. Some A3 proteins can be incorporated into progeny virions and inhibit lentiviral replication. In turn, the lentiviral viral infectivity factor (Vif) counteracts the A3-mediated antiviral effect by degrading A3 proteins. Recent investigations have suggested that lentiviral vif genes evolved to combat mammalian APOBEC3 proteins, and have further proposed that the Vif-A3 interaction may help determine the co-evolutionary history of cross-species lentiviral transmission in mammals. Results Here we address the co-evolutionary relationship between two New World felids, the puma (Puma concolor) and the bobcat (Lynx rufus), and their lentiviruses, which are designated puma lentiviruses (PLVs). We demonstrate that PLV-A Vif counteracts the antiviral action of APOBEC3Z3 (A3Z3) of both puma and bobcat, whereas PLV-B Vif counteracts only puma A3Z3. The species specificity of PLV-B Vif is irrespective of the phylogenic relationships of feline species in the genera Puma, Lynx and Acinonyx. We reveal that the amino acid at position 178 in the puma and bobcat A3Z3 is exposed on the protein surface and determines the sensitivity to PLV-B Vif-mediated degradation. Moreover, although both the puma and bobcat A3Z3 genes are polymorphic, their sensitivity/resistance to PLV Vif-mediated degradation is conserved. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study suggesting that the host A3 protein potently controls inter-genus lentiviral transmission. Our findings provide the first evidence suggesting that the co-evolutionary arms race between lentiviruses and mammals has occurred in the New World. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12977-018-0414-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoriyuki Konno
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shumpei Nagaoka
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Izumi Kimura
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yumiko Kagawa
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Kumata
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Aso
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - So Nakagawa
- Micro/Nano Technology Center, Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan.,Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kobayashi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshio Koyanagi
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kei Sato
- Laboratory of Systems Virology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. .,CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama, Japan. .,Division of Systems Virology, Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 1088639, Japan.
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3
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Yuan C, Liu W, Wang Y, Hou J, Zhang L, Wang G. Homologous recombination is a force in the evolution of canine distemper virus. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175416. [PMID: 28394936 PMCID: PMC5386261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is the causative agent of canine distemper (CD) that is a highly contagious, lethal, multisystemic viral disease of receptive carnivores. The prevalence of CDV is a major concern in susceptible animals. Presently, it is unclear whether intragenic recombination can contribute to gene mutations and segment reassortment in the virus. In this study, 25 full-length CDV genome sequences were subjected to phylogenetic and recombinational analyses. The results of phylogenetic analysis, intragenic recombination, and nucleotide selection pressure indicated that mutation and recombination occurred in the six individual genes segment (H, F, P, N, L, M) of the CDV genome. The analysis also revealed pronounced genetic diversity in the CDV genome according to the geographically distinct lineages (genotypes), namely Asia-1, Asia-2, Asia-3, Europe, America-1, and America-2. The six recombination events were detected using SimPlot and RDP programs. The analysis of selection pressure demonstrated that a majority of the nucleotides in the CDV individual gene were under negative selection. Collectively, these data suggested that homologous recombination acts as a key force driving the genetic diversity and evolution of canine distemper virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowen Yuan
- College of life and health sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenxin Liu
- Laboratory of Hematology, Affiliated hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingbo Wang
- College of life and health sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jinlong Hou
- College of life and health sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Liguo Zhang
- Center for Animal Disease Emergency of Liaoning province, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Guoqing Wang
- College of life and health sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- * E-mail:
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Lee JS, Bevins SN, Serieys LEK, Vickers W, Logan KA, Aldredge M, Boydston EE, Lyren LM, McBride R, Roelke-Parker M, Pecon-Slattery J, Troyer JL, Riley SP, Boyce WM, Crooks KR, VandeWoude S. Evolution of puma lentivirus in bobcats (Lynx rufus) and mountain lions (Puma concolor) in North America. J Virol 2014; 88:7727-37. [PMID: 24741092 PMCID: PMC4097783 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00473-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mountain lions (Puma concolor) throughout North and South America are infected with puma lentivirus clade B (PLVB). A second, highly divergent lentiviral clade, PLVA, infects mountain lions in southern California and Florida. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in these two geographic regions are also infected with PLVA, and to date, this is the only strain of lentivirus identified in bobcats. We sequenced full-length PLV genomes in order to characterize the molecular evolution of PLV in bobcats and mountain lions. Low sequence homology (88% average pairwise identity) and frequent recombination (1 recombination breakpoint per 3 isolates analyzed) were observed in both clades. Viral proteins have markedly different patterns of evolution; sequence homology and negative selection were highest in Gag and Pol and lowest in Vif and Env. A total of 1.7% of sites across the PLV genome evolve under positive selection, indicating that host-imposed selection pressure is an important force shaping PLV evolution. PLVA strains are highly spatially structured, reflecting the population dynamics of their primary host, the bobcat. In contrast, the phylogeography of PLVB reflects the highly mobile mountain lion, with diverse PLVB isolates cocirculating in some areas and genetically related viruses being present in populations separated by thousands of kilometers. We conclude that PLVA and PLVB are two different viral species with distinct feline hosts and evolutionary histories. Importance: An understanding of viral evolution in natural host populations is a fundamental goal of virology, molecular biology, and disease ecology. Here we provide a detailed analysis of puma lentivirus (PLV) evolution in two natural carnivore hosts, the bobcat and mountain lion. Our results illustrate that PLV evolution is a dynamic process that results from high rates of viral mutation/recombination and host-imposed selection pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Sarah N Bevins
- USDA National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Laurel E K Serieys
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Winston Vickers
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Ken A Logan
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Montrose, Colorado, USA
| | - Mat Aldredge
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Erin E Boydston
- USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - Lisa M Lyren
- USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - Roy McBride
- Rancher's Supply Inc., Ochopee, Florida, USA
| | - Melody Roelke-Parker
- Laboratory of Genetic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jill Pecon-Slattery
- Laboratory of Genetic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer L Troyer
- Laboratory of Genetic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Seth P Riley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Walter M Boyce
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kevin R Crooks
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Sue VandeWoude
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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5
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He CQ, Meng SL, Yan HY, Ding NZ, He HB, Yan JX, Xu GL. Isolation and identification of a novel rabies virus lineage in China with natural recombinant nucleoprotein gene. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49992. [PMID: 23226506 PMCID: PMC3514186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies virus (RABV) causes severe neurological disease and death. As an important mechanism for generating genetic diversity in viruses, homologous recombination can lead to the emergence of novel virus strains with increased virulence and changed host tropism. However, it is still unclear whether recombination plays a role in the evolution of RABV. In this study, we isolated and sequenced four circulating RABV strains in China. Phylogenetic analyses identified a novel lineage of hybrid origin that comprises two different strains, J and CQ92. Analyses revealed that the virus 3′ untranslated region (UTR) and part of the N gene (approximate 500 nt in length) were likely derived from Chinese lineage I while the other part of the genomic sequence was homologous to Chinese lineage II. Our findings reveal that homologous recombination can occur naturally in the field and shape the genetic structure of RABV populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Qiang He
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology in Universities of Shandong, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
- * E-mail: (CQH); (HBH)
| | - Sheng-Li Meng
- Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong-Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology in Universities of Shandong, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Nai-Zheng Ding
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology in Universities of Shandong, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Hong-Bin He
- Dairy Cattle Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- * E-mail: (CQH); (HBH)
| | - Jia-Xin Yan
- Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, Wuhan, China
| | - Ge-Lin Xu
- Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, Wuhan, China
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6
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Intragenic recombination as a mechanism of genetic diversity in bluetongue virus. J Virol 2010; 84:11487-95. [PMID: 20702614 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00889-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bluetongue (BT), caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV), is an economically important disease affecting sheep, deer, cattle, and goats. Since 1998, a series of BT outbreaks have spread across much of southern and central Europe. To study why the epidemiology of the virus happens to change, it is important to fully know the mechanisms resulting in its genetic diversity. Gene mutation and segment reassortment have been considered as the key forces driving the evolution of BTV. However, it is still unknown whether intragenic recombination can occur and contribute to the process in the virus. We present here several BTV groups containing mosaic genes to reveal that intragenic recombination can take place between the virus strains and play a potential role in bringing novel BTV lineages.
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7
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The effect of vaccination on the evolution and population dynamics of avian paramyxovirus-1. PLoS Pathog 2010; 6:e1000872. [PMID: 20421950 PMCID: PMC2858710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 03/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) is a pathogenic strain of avian paramyxovirus (aPMV-1) that is among the most serious of disease threats to the poultry industry worldwide. Viral diversity is high in aPMV-1; eight genotypes are recognized based on phylogenetic reconstruction of gene sequences. Modified live vaccines have been developed to decrease the economic losses caused by this virus. Vaccines derived from avirulent genotype II strains were developed in the 1950s and are in use globally, whereas Australian strains belonging to genotype I were developed as vaccines in the 1970s and are used mainly in Asia. In this study, we evaluated the consequences of attenuated live virus vaccination on the evolution of aPMV-1 genotypes. There was phylogenetic incongruence among trees based on individual genes and complete coding region of 54 full length aPMV-1 genomes, suggesting that recombinant sequences were present in the data set. Subsequently, five recombinant genomes were identified, four of which contained sequences from either genotype I or II. The population history of vaccine-related genotype II strains was distinct from other aPMV-1 genotypes; genotype II emerged in the late 19th century and is evolving more slowly than other genotypes, which emerged in the 1960s. Despite vaccination efforts, genotype II viruses have experienced constant population growth to the present. In contrast, other contemporary genotypes showed population declines in the late 1990s. Additionally, genotype I and II viruses, which are circulating in the presence of homotypic vaccine pressure, have unique selection profiles compared to nonvaccine-related strains. Collectively, these data show that vaccination with live attenuated viruses has changed the evolution of aPMV-1 by maintaining a large effective population size of a vaccine-related genotype, allowing for coinfection and recombination of vaccine and wild type strains, and by applying unique selective pressures on viral glycoproteins. Modified live virus (MLV) vaccines have been effective in reducing disease burden and economic loss caused by Newcastle Disease (ND) in domestic poultry. Because the vaccine is a live virus, it is transmissible among birds. Thus, vaccination strategies have the potential to impact the evolutionary genetics of wild type strains of aPMV-1 including those that cause ND. In this report, we provided evidence that viruses isolated from wild and domestic birds have recombined with vaccine strains, because vaccinated birds are protected from disease but not infection with other strains of aPMV-1. Despite the use of vaccines since the 1950s, the population size of the strain from which the most widely used vaccine was derived has steadily increased. In contrast, other contemporary genotypes, which emerged in the 1960s, experienced a decline in population size in 1998, which may reflect a change in poultry farming practices or disease. Vaccination imposed a unique selection profile on the genotypes derived from the vaccine-related strains when compared with nonvaccine-related strains. Although modified live viruses are important for controlling Newcastle Disease, the potential of vaccination strategies to change viral diversity and population dynamics should be considered.
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Kenyon JC, Ghazawi A, Cheung WKS, Phillip PS, Rizvi TA, Lever AML. The secondary structure of the 5' end of the FIV genome reveals a long-range interaction between R/U5 and gag sequences, and a large, stable stem-loop. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2008; 14:2597-608. [PMID: 18974279 PMCID: PMC2590967 DOI: 10.1261/rna.1284908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that infects cats and is related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although it is a common worldwide infection, and has potential uses as a human gene therapy vector and as a nonprimate model for HIV infection, little detail is known of the viral life cycle. Previous experiments have shown that its packaging signal includes two or more regions within the first 511 nucleotides of the genomic RNA. We have undertaken a secondary structural analysis of this RNA by minimal free-energy structural prediction, biochemical mapping, and phylogenetic analysis, and show that it contains five conserved stem-loops and a conserved long-range interaction between heptanucleotide sequences 5'-CCCUGUC-3' in R/U5 and 5'-GACAGGG-3' in gag. This long-range interaction is similar to that seen in primate lentiviruses where it is thought to be functionally important. Along with strains that infect domestic cats, this heptanucleotide interaction can also occur in species-specific FIV strains that infect pumas, lions, and Pallas' cats where the heptanucleotide sequences involved vary. We have analyzed spliced and genomic FIV RNAs and see little structural change or sequence conservation within single-stranded regions of the 5' UTR that are important for viral packaging, suggesting that FIV may employ a cotranslational packaging mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia C Kenyon
- Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom
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Poss M, Ross H. Evolution of the long terminal repeat and accessory genes of feline immunodeficiency virus genomes from naturally infected cougars. Virology 2008; 370:55-62. [PMID: 17904608 PMCID: PMC2215318 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2007] [Revised: 06/29/2007] [Accepted: 08/21/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
FIVpco is a member of the feline immunodeficiency virus family that is endemic in wild cougar populations. Virus replication is robust in FIVpco-infected cougars but there are no consequences of infection to cougar survival, fecundity or susceptibility to other infections. Unlike pathogenic lentiviruses, there is no evidence for positive selection on FIVpco gag or env. To better understand how lentivirus genomes evolve in natural infections, we evaluated the regulatory region and accessory genes from fourteen full-length FIVpco genomes, which represent the FIVpco diversity in the Northern Rockies Ecosystem. Our data demonstrate that the two sister groups of FIVpco have each acquired binding sites for different interferon response factors (IRF). The most variable gene in the FIVpco genome encodes OrfA, although there is no indication that it, or any other accessory gene, is under positive selection. There is a single-splice acceptor site for vif expression, which is conserved among all FIVpco genomes. However, there are several putative means to express rev and orfA, which differ between the phylogenetic groups of FIVpco. Our comparative study on divergent FIVpco genomes indicates that variation in potential gene regulation mechanisms, not changes in structural proteins, characterize the evolution of FIVpco in natural infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Poss
- Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, 208 Mueller Lab, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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