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Journal of Virology, February 2004, p. 2045-2056, Vol. 78, No. 4
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.4.2045-2056.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Complete Genome Sequence of Fer-de-Lance Virus Reveals a Novel Gene in Reptilian Paramyxoviruses

Gael Kurath,1* William N. Batts,1 Winfried Ahne,2 and James R. Winton1

U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98115,1 Institute of Zoology, Fishery Biology, and Fish Disease, University of Munich, D-80539 Munich, Germany2

Received 24 March 2003/ Accepted 4 November 2003

The complete RNA genome sequence of the archetype reptilian paramyxovirus, Fer-de-Lance virus (FDLV), has been determined. The genome is 15,378 nucleotides in length and consists of seven nonoverlapping genes in the order 3' N-U-P-M-F-HN-L 5', coding for the nucleocapsid, unknown, phospho-, matrix, fusion, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase, and large polymerase proteins, respectively. The gene junctions contain highly conserved transcription start and stop signal sequences and tri-nucleotide intergenic regions similar to those of other Paramyxoviridae. The FDLV P gene expression strategy is like that of rubulaviruses, which express the accessory V protein from the primary transcript and edit a portion of the mRNA to encode P and I proteins. There is also an overlapping open reading frame potentially encoding a small basic protein in the P gene. The gene designated U (unknown), encodes a deduced protein of 19.4 kDa that has no counterpart in other paramyxoviruses and has no similarity with sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Active transcription of the U gene in infected cells was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis, and bicistronic N-U mRNA was also evident. The genomes of two other snake paramyxovirus genotypes were also found to have U genes, with 11 to 16% nucleotide divergence from the FDLV U gene. Pairwise comparisons of amino acid identities and phylogenetic analyses of all deduced FDLV protein sequences with homologous sequences from other Paramyxoviridae indicate that FDLV represents a new genus within the subfamily Paramyxovirinae. We suggest the name Ferlavirus for the new genus, with FDLV as the type species.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, 6505 NE 65th St., Seattle, WA 98115. Phone: (206) 526-6583. Fax: (206) 526-6654. E-mail: gael_kurath{at}usgs.gov.

Journal of Virology, February 2004, p. 2045-2056, Vol. 78, No. 4
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.4.2045-2056.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Jack, P. J. M., Boyle, D. B., Eaton, B. T., Wang, L.-F. (2005). The Complete Genome Sequence of J Virus Reveals a Unique Genome Structure in the Family Paramyxoviridae. J. Virol. 79: 10690-10700 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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