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Journal of Virology, October 2008, p. 10312-10317, Vol. 82, No. 20
0022-538X/08/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JVI.01031-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Virology Division, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands,1 Department of Public Health and Zootechnics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bari, Bari, Italy2
Received 16 May 2008/ Accepted 21 July 2008
Coronaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses of extraordinary genetic complexity and diversity. In addition to a common set of genes for replicase and structural proteins, each coronavirus may carry multiple group-specific genes apparently acquired through relatively recent heterologous recombination events. Here we describe an accessory gene, ORF3, unique to canine coronavirus type I (CCoV-I) and characterize its product, glycoprotein gp3. Whereas ORF3 is conserved in CCoV-I, only remnants remain in CCoV-II and CCoV-II-derived porcine and feline coronaviruses. Our findings provide insight into the evolutionary history of coronavirus group 1a and into the dynamics of gain and loss of accessory genes.
Published ahead of print on 30 July 2008.
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