Discovery and genetic characterization of a novel orthonairovirus in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Danube Delta.

In this study, a collection of ticks obtained in 2016 directly from mammal and bird hosts from several rural and natural sites of Danube Delta was subjected to transcriptome sequencing and amplification assays. Vector surveillance revealed the presence of a novel orthonairovirus species, designated Sulina virus, in Ixodes ricinus ticks. Phylogenetic clustering of each viral protein consistently placed the new virus in the Orthonairovirus genus as a new genogroup closely related to Tamdy orthonairovirus, a genogroup comprising both pathogenic and tick-associated orthonairoviruses. The serological testing of engorged ticks and blood of infected hosts, along with the inoculation of vertebrate cells and mice found no specific antibodies or viral replication, suggesting that Sulina virus is an orthonairovirus associated with the virome of Ixodes ricinus. Finally, the characterization of a novel orthonairovirus identified using high throughput sequencing will advance our knowledge of interactions between viruses and tick vectors, expanding our perspective on fundamental questions regarding orthonairovirus evolution, diversity, ecology and potential of emergence as pathogens.
PMID: 33418146 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - January 5, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tomazatos A, von Possel R, Pekarek N, Holm T, Rieger T, Baum H, Bialonski A, Maranda I, Erdelyi-Molnár I, Spînu M, Lühken R, Jansen S, Emmerich P, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Cadar D Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: research