scholarly journals Letea Virus: Comparative Genomics and Phylogenetic Analysis of a Novel Reassortant Orbivirus Discovered in Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix)

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandru Tomazatos ◽  
Rachel E. Marschang ◽  
Iulia Maranda ◽  
Heike Baum ◽  
Alexandra Bialonski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Intragenic Recombination ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Natrix Natrix ◽  
New Information ◽  
Gene Reassortment ◽  
Virus Strains

The discovery and characterization of novel arthropod-borne viruses provide valuable information on their genetic diversity, ecology, evolution and potential to threaten animal or public health. Arbovirus surveillance is not conducted regularly in Romania, being particularly very scarce in the remote and diverse areas like the Danube Delta. Here we describe the detection and genetic characterization of a novel orbivirus (Reoviridae: Orbivirus) designated as Letea virus, which was found in grass snakes (Natrix natrix) during a metagenomic and metatranscriptomic survey conducted between 2014 and 2017. This virus is the first orbivirus discovered in reptiles. Phylogenetic analyses placed Letea virus as a highly divergent species in the Culicoides-/sand fly-borne orbivirus clade. Gene reassortment and intragenic recombination were detected in the majority of the nine Letea virus strains obtained, implying that these mechanisms play important roles in the evolution and diversification of the virus. However, the screening of arthropods, including Culicoides biting midges collected within the same surveillance program, tested negative for Letea virus infection and could not confirm the arthropod vector of the virus. The study provided complete genome sequences for nine Letea virus strains and new information about orbivirus diversity, host range, ecology and evolution. The phylogenetic associations warrant further screening of arthropods, as well as sustained surveillance efforts for elucidation of Letea virus natural cycle and possible implications for animal and human health.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of Imported and Autochthonous Dengue in Northeastern Spain

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1910
Author(s):  
Jessica Navero-Castillejos ◽  
Rosa Benitez ◽  
Nuria Torner ◽  
José Muñoz ◽  
Daniel Camprubí-Ferrer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Genotype I ◽  
Related Case ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Endemic Areas ◽  
Virus Strains

Dengue is the most significant arbovirus worldwide and a public health threat to non-endemic areas in which Aedes vectors are present. Autochthonous dengue transmission has been reported in several European countries in the last decade. Infected travelers from endemic regions arriving to areas colonized by Aedes albopictus in Europe need to be monitored in surveillance and control programs. We aimed to perform molecular characterization of RT-PCR-positive dengue cases detected in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, from 2013 to 2018. The basic demographic information and the geographical regions of importation were also analyzed. One-hundred four dengue cases were studied (103 imported infections and the first autochthonous case in our region). The dengue virus strains detected were serotyped and genotyped using molecular methods, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted. All four dengue serotypes were detected in travelers, including up to 10 different genotypes, reflecting the global circulation of dengue in endemic areas. The primary travel-related case of the 2018 autochthonous transmission was not identified, but the molecular analysis revealed dengue serotype 1, genotype I of Asian origin. Our results highlight the diversity of imported dengue virus strains and the role of molecular epidemiology in supporting arbovirus surveillance programs.

scholarly journals Sergeia podlipaevi gen. nov., sp. nov. (Trypanosomatidae, Kinetoplastida), a parasite of biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, Diptera)

2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Svobodová ◽  
Lenka Zídková ◽  
Ivan Čepička ◽  
Miroslav Oborník ◽  
Julius Lukeš ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Spliced Leader ◽  
Blood Sucking ◽  
Trypanosomatid Parasites

Three strains of a trypanosomatid protozoan were isolated from the midguts of two naturally infected species of biting midges [Culicoides (Oecacta) festivipennis and Culicoides (Oecacta) truncorum] and characterized by light and electron microscopy and by molecular techniques. Morphological characteristics and sequences of the 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA, spliced leader RNA and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes indicate that the studied flagellates represent a novel phylogenetic lineage within the Trypanosomatidae. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the novel endosymbiont-free, monoxenous trypanosomatid was classified as Sergeia podlipaevi gen. nov., sp. nov. Interestingly, it is closely related to another trypanosomatid species that parasitizes the sand fly Lutzomyia evansi, a blood-sucking dipteran from South America. The type strain of S. podlipaevi sp. nov., ICUL/CZ/2000/CER3, was obtained from Malpighian tubes. Of 2518 females of seven species of biting midges trapped in the Czech Republic, more than 1.5 % were infected by trypanosomatid parasites. An unrelated insect species, Culicoides (Monoculicoides) nubeculosus, was experimentally infected with S. podlipaevi, demonstrating that its host range extends to different subgenera of biting midges.

scholarly journals Functional and Molecular Characterization of the Halomicrobium sp. IBSBa Inulosucrase

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 749
Author(s):  
Gülbahar Abaramak ◽  
Jaime Ricardo Porras-Domínguez ◽  
Henry Christopher Janse van Rensburg ◽  
Eveline Lescrinier ◽  
Ebru Toksoy Öner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Halophilic Archaea ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Specific Alternative ◽  
Binding Groove ◽  
Native Host

Fructans are fructose-based (poly)saccharides with inulin and levan being the best-known ones. Thanks to their health-related benefits, inulin-type fructans have been under the focus of scientific and industrial communities, though mostly represented by plant-based inulins, and rarely by microbial ones. Recently, it was discovered that some extremely halophilic Archaea are also able to synthesize fructans. Here, we describe the first in-depth functional and molecular characterization of an Archaeal inulosucrase from Halomicrobium sp. IBSBa (HmcIsc). The HmcIsc enzyme was recombinantly expressed and purified in Escherichia coli and shown to synthesize inulin as proven by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. In accordance with the halophilic lifestyle of its native host, the enzyme showed maximum activity at very high NaCl concentrations (3.5 M), with specific adaptations for that purpose. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that Archaeal inulosucrases have been acquired from halophilic bacilli through horizontal gene transfer, with a HX(H/F)T motif evolving further into a HXHT motif, together with a unique D residue creating the onset of a specific alternative acceptor binding groove. This work uncovers a novel area in fructan research, highlighting unexplored aspects of life in hypersaline habitats, and raising questions about the general physiological relevance of inulosucrases and their products in nature.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of PGC-1β (PPAR Gamma Coactivator 1β) and its Roles in Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Blunt Snout Bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kangle Lu ◽  
Tomas Policar ◽  
Xiaojun Song ◽  
Samad Rahimnejad
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Mitochondrial Biogenesis ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Ppar Gamma ◽  
Megalobrama Amblycephala ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Blunt Snout Bream ◽  
Mitochondria Biogenesis

This study aimed at achieving the molecular characterization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1β (PGC-1β) and exploring its modulatory roles in mitochondria biogenesis in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). A full-length cDNA of PGC-1β was cloned from liver which covered 3110 bp encoding 859 amino acids. The conserved motifs of PGC-1β family proteins were gained by MEME software, and the phylogenetic analyses showed motif loss and rearrangement of PGC-1β in fish. The function of PGC-1β was evaluated through overexpression and knockdown of PGC-1β in primary hepatocytes of blunt snout bream. We observed overexpression of PGC-1β along with enhanced mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) expression and mtDNA copies in hepatocytes, and its knockdown led to slightly reduced NRF1 expression. However, knockdown of PGC-1β did not significantly influence TFAM expression or mtDNA copies. The alterations in mitochondria biogenesis were assessed following high-fat intake, and the results showed that it induces downregulation of PGC-1β. Furthermore, significant decreases in mitochondrial respiratory chain activities and mitochondria biogenesis were observed by high-fat intake. Our findings demonstrated that overexpression of PGC-1β induces the enhancement of TFAM expression and mtDNA amount but not NRF-1. Therefore, it could be concluded that PGC-1β is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis in blunt snout bream but not through PGC-1β/NRF-1 pathway.

scholarly journals Diversity unearthed by the estimated molecular phylogeny and ecologically quantitative characteristics of uncultured Ehrlichia bacteria in Haemaphysalis ticks, Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongru Su ◽  
Eri Onoda ◽  
Hitoshi Tai ◽  
Hiromi Fujita ◽  
Shigetoshi Sakabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
Core Genome ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Pcr Screening ◽  
Taxonomic Profiling ◽  
Quantitative Characteristics

AbstractEhrlichia species are obligatory intracellular bacteria transmitted by arthropods, and some of these species cause febrile diseases in humans and livestock. Genome sequencing has only been performed with cultured Ehrlichia species, and the taxonomic status of such ehrlichiae has been estimated by core genome-based phylogenetic analysis. However, many uncultured ehrlichiae exist in nature throughout the world, including Japan. This study aimed to conduct a molecular-based taxonomic and ecological characterization of uncultured Ehrlichia species or genotypes from ticks in Japan. We first surveyed 616 Haemaphysalis ticks by p28-PCR screening and analyzed five additional housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, groEL, gltA, ftsZ, and rpoB) from 11 p28-PCR-positive ticks. Phylogenetic analyses of the respective genes showed similar trees but with some differences. Furthermore, we found that V1 in the V1–V9 regions of Ehrlichia 16S rRNA exhibited the greatest variability. From an ecological viewpoint, the amounts of ehrlichiae in a single tick were found to equal approx. 6.3E+3 to 2.0E+6. Subsequently, core-partial-RGGFR-based phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of the five housekeeping loci revealed six Ehrlichia genotypes, which included potentially new Ehrlichia species. Thus, our approach contributes to the taxonomic profiling and ecological quantitative analysis of uncultured or unidentified Ehrlichia species or genotypes worldwide.

New perspectives on Aspersentis Megarhynchus (Acanthocephala: Heteracanthocephalidae) from Notothenia Coriiceps Richardson (Nototheniidae) in the West Antarctic, with emended generic diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
O.M. Amin ◽  
R.A. Heckmann ◽  
S. Dallarés ◽  
M. Constenla ◽  
N.Yu. Rubtsova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Generic Diagnosis ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Dorsal Wall ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Notothenia Coriiceps ◽  
The Many ◽  
Dorsal Position

Abstract A number of variable descriptive accounts of Aspersentis megarhynchus (von Linstow, 1892) Golvan, 1960 have been reported from specimens collected from many species of fish in various locations off Antarctic islands. We have described a new population from Notothenia coriiceps Richardson (Nototheniidae) off Galindez Island, West Antarctica, and features not previously reported, resolved the taxonomic controversies and nomenclature, and emended and updated the generic diagnosis taking into account the newly observed structures. These are depicted in microscopic images and include the outer spiral wall of the proboscis receptacle, the thicker dorsal wall of the receptacle compared to the ventral wall, parts of the female reproductive system, the separate cement gland ducts, the dorsal position of the male gonopore and more detail of proboscis hooks and trunk spines. It is surprising that the newly observed features were missed from the many descriptions of A. megarhynchus created since the original description. The variability in A. megarhynchus is noted with a comparison of the morphometrics of our specimens vs. those in six other descriptions. We also analysed the metal composition of hooks and spines using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and concluded a molecular characterization of the species based on 18S DNA gene, with related phylogenetic analyses.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Sequences of Six Measles Virus Strains

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
My V. T. Phan ◽  
Claudia M. E. Schapendonk ◽  
Bas B. Oude Munnink ◽  
Marion P. G. Koopmans ◽  
Rik L. de Swart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Next Generation Sequencing ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Measles Virus ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Virus Strains ◽  
Generation Sequencing

ABSTRACT Genetic characterization of wild-type measles virus (MV) strains is a critical component of measles surveillance and molecular epidemiology. We have obtained complete genome sequences of six MV strains belonging to different genotypes, using random-primed next generation sequencing.

scholarly journals Enhanced antimicrobial peptide-induced activity in the mollusc Toll-2 family through evolution via tandem Toll/interleukin-1 receptor

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 160123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Cao ◽  
Yihong Chen ◽  
Min Jin ◽  
Qian Ren
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Functional Divergence ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Intragenic Recombination ◽  
Functional Difference ◽  
S2 Cells ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
Motif Composition ◽  
Domain Insertion

Toll receptors play an important role in the innate immunity of invertebrates. All reported Tolls have only one Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain at the C-terminal. In this study, numerous Tolls with tandem TIRs at the C-terminal were found in molluscs. Such Tolls presented an extra TIR (TIR-1) compared with Toll-I. Thus, Toll-I might be the ancestor of tandem TIRs containing Toll. To test this hypothesis, 83 Toll-I and Toll-2 (most have two TIRs, but others seem to be the evolutionary intermediates) genes from 29 shellfish species were identified. These Tolls were divided into nine groups based on phylogenetic analyses. A strong correlation between phylogeny and motif composition was found. All Toll proteins contained the TIR-2 domain, whereas the TIR-1 domain only existed in some Toll-2 protein, suggesting that TIR-1 domain insertion may play an important role in Toll protein evolution. Further analyses of functional divergence and adaptive evolution showed that some of the critical sites responsible for functional divergence may have been under positive selection. An additional intragenic recombination played an important role in the evolution of the Toll-I and Toll-2 genes. To investigate the functional difference of Toll-I and Toll-2, over expression of Hcu_Toll-I or Hcu_Toll-2-2 in Drosophila S2 cells was performed. Results showed that Hcu_Toll-2-2 had stronger antimicrobial peptide (AMP) activity than Hcu_Toll-I. Therefore, enhanced AMP-induced activity resulted from tandem TIRs in Toll-2s of molluscs during evolution history.

scholarly journals Identification and characterization of Fep15, a new selenocysteine-containing member of the Sep15 protein family

2006 ◽  
Vol 394 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey V. Novoselov ◽  
Deame Hua ◽  
Alexey V. Lobanov ◽  
Vadim N. Gladyshev
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Insertion Sequence ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Putative Active Site ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Sequence Elements ◽  
Identification And Characterization ◽  
Insertion Sequence Elements

Sec (selenocysteine) is a rare amino acid in proteins. It is co-translationally inserted into proteins at UGA codons with the help of SECIS (Sec insertion sequence) elements. A full set of selenoproteins within a genome, known as the selenoproteome, is highly variable in different organisms. However, most of the known eukaryotic selenoproteins are represented in the mammalian selenoproteome. In addition, many of these selenoproteins have cysteine orthologues. Here, we describe a new selenoprotein, designated Fep15, which is distantly related to members of the 15 kDa selenoprotein (Sep15) family. Fep15 is absent in mammals, can be detected only in fish and is present in these organisms only in the selenoprotein form. In contrast with other members of the Sep15 family, which contain a putative active site composed of Sec and cysteine, Fep15 has only Sec. When transiently expressed in mammalian cells, Fep15 incorporated Sec in an SECIS- and SBP2 (SECIS-binding protein 2)-dependent manner and was targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum by its N-terminal signal peptide. Phylogenetic analyses of Sep15 family members suggest that Fep15 evolved by gene duplication.

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