A novel astrovirus-like RNA virus detected in human stool

Oude Munnink, B. B. et al. (2016) A novel astrovirus-like RNA virus detected in human stool. Virus Evolution, 2(1), vew005. (doi: 10.1093/ve/vew005) (PMID:27774298) (PMCID:PMC4989881)

Abstract

Several novel clades of astroviruses have recently been identified in human faecal samples. Here, we describe a novel astrovirus-like RNA virus detected in human stools, which we have tentatively named bastrovirus. The genome of this novel virus consists of 6,300 nucleotides organized in three open reading frames. Several sequence divergent strains were detected sharing 67–93 per cent nucleotide identity. Bastrovirus encodes a putative structural protein that is homologous to the capsid protein found in members of the Astroviridae family (45% amino acid identity). The virus also encodes a putative non-structural protein that is genetically distant from astroviruses but shares some homology to the non-structural protein encoded by members of the Hepeviridae family (28% amino acid identity). This novel bastrovirus is present in 8.7 per cent (35/400) of faecal samples collected from 300 HIV-1-positive and 100 HIV-1-negative individuals suggesting common occurrence of the virus. However, whether the source of the virus is infected human cells or other, for example, dietary, remains to be determined.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cotten, Professor Matthew
• Authors: Oude Munnink, B. B., Cotten, M., Canuti, M., Deijs, M., Jebbink, M. F., van Hemert, F. J., Phan, M. V. T., Bakker, M., Jazaeri Farsani, S. M., Kellam, P., and van der Hoek, L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Virus Evolution
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 2057-1577
• ISSN (Online): 2057-1577
• Published Online: 02 March 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Virus Evolution 2(1):vew005
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License