Leucoma salicis nucleopolyhedrovirus (LesaNPV) genome sequence shed new light on the origin of the Alphabaculovirus orpseudotsugatae species

In this study, we have established the relationship between LesaNPV and other closely related alphabaculoviruses. Environmental samples of late instar of white satin moth collected in Poland infected with baculovirus have been homogenized, polyhedra were purified and subjected to scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Viral DNA was sequenced using the Illumina platform and the whole-genome sequence was established by de novo assembly of paired reads. Genome annotation and phylogenetic analyses were performed with the use of bioinformatics tools. The genome of LesaNPV is 132  549 bp long with 154 ORFs and 54.9% GC content. Whole-genome sequencing revealed deletion of dUTPase as well as ribonucleoside reductases small and large subunits region in LesaNPV genome compared to Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV) and Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhe drovirus (OpMNPV) where this region is complete. Phylogenetic analysis ofBaculoviridae family members showed that LesaNPV is less divergent from a common ancestor than closely related species DapuNPV and OpMNPV. This is interesting because their hosts do not occur in the same area. The baculoviruses described in this manuscript are probably isolates of one species and could be assigned to recently denominated speciesAlphabaculovirus orpseudotsugatae, historically originating from OpMNPV. This finding could have significant implications for the classification and understanding of the phylogeographical sp...
Source: Virus Genes - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research