Archives of Virology最新文献

{"title":"Structural insights into DENV-2 NS2B-NS3 protease and inhibition by glutathione-coated gold nanocluster","authors":"Haojia Zhu,&nbsp;Wenchao Niu,&nbsp;Yuancong Xu,&nbsp;Zhaoyang Li,&nbsp;Dongfang Xia,&nbsp;Sixu Chen,&nbsp;Botao Zhang,&nbsp;Junshuai Wang,&nbsp;Huai Yang,&nbsp;Xueyun Gao,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Chen,&nbsp;Yong Gong,&nbsp;Peng Cao,&nbsp;Yubai Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06662-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06662-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Dengue virus (DENV) continues to pose a significant global health threat, with increasing infection rates and limited treatment options. The viral NS2B-NS3 protease (NS2B-NS3pro), a highly conserved two-component enzyme essential for polyprotein processing and replication, is a key target for antiviral drug development. Here, we report the 2.25 Å-resolution crystal structure of DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) NS2B-NS3pro, in which a PEG fragment is bound within a solvent-exposed pocket between <i>β</i>10, <i>β</i>11, <i>β</i>14 and <i>β</i>15 of NS3. This structure reveals a previously unrecognized solvent-exposed PEG-binding pocket, which may represent a putative ligand-binding surface for future validation and inhibitor-design studies. We also show that the glutathione-coated gold nanocluster (GSH-AuNC) directly inhibits DENV-2 NS2B-NS3pro. Bio-layer interferometry and fluorescence-based protease assays indicate that the nanocluster binds NS2B-NS3pro with a dissociation constant of 15.64 µM and inhibits its catalytic activity with an IC₅₀ of 16.04 µM, consistent with a direct inhibitory effect at the in vitro enzymatic level. Molecular dynamics simulations further suggest that GSH-AuNC is predicted to interact with the catalytic triad of NS2B-NS3pro, forming stable electrostatic and van der Waals interactions that may interfere with substrate access. Collectively, these findings provide an in vitro structural and biochemical basis for targeting DENV-2 NS2B-NS3pro and may inform future development of small-molecule or nanomedicine-based inhibitors, although cell-based antiviral efficacy, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake remain to be evaluated.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148306782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular characterization of a novel partitivirus isolated from Fusarium solani, the causal agent of tobacco root rot","authors":"Xiao Wu,&nbsp;Ying Wang,&nbsp;Rui Guo,&nbsp;Ya Rong Wang,&nbsp;Si Jun Li,&nbsp;Xiang Ping Zhou,&nbsp;Jie Zhong,&nbsp;Yan Song Xiao,&nbsp;Tian Bo Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06642-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06642-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, a novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycovirus, tentatively designated Fusarium solani partitivirus 4 (FsPV4), was isolated from the <i>Fusarium solani</i> strain GF7, a phytopathogenic fungus responsible for tobacco root rot. The genome of FsPV4 consists of two dsRNA segments, referred to as dsRNA1 (2312 bp in length) and dsRNA2 (2213 bp in length). The dsRNA 1 and dsRNA 2 were predicted to encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a coat protein (CP), respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that the RdRp of FsPV4 showed significant sequence similarity to the RdRps of partitiviruses, with Aplosporella javeedii partitivirus 1 being the best match (identity: 60.76%). Phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp showed that FsPV4 clustered robustly within the genus <i>Betapartitivirus</i> of the family <i>Partitiviridae</i>. This represents the first report of a betapartitivirus infecting <i>F. solani</i>, providing a potential candidate for the biological control of <i>F. solani</i>-mediated plant diseases.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148306805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic characterization of three novel Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli lytic phages","authors":"AE Juarez,&nbsp;A Krüger,&nbsp;PMA Lucchesi","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06673-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06673-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC) are major foodborne pathogens. In response to the need for safe biocontrol strategies, lytic phages have emerged as promising tools for STEC control. This study analyses genomic features of three novel phages, L73, PG3 and A4.3, isolated from cattle farms using STEC strains as hosts. L73 and PG3 were classified as <i>Tequatrovirus</i>, while A4.3 as <i>Vequintavirus</i>. Genomic analyses revealed no markers of lysogeny, antimicrobial resistance, or virulence. Phylogenetic and comparative analyses confirmed close relationships to reference phages of each genus, while also revealing distinct genetic differences. These phages constitute genomically well-supported candidates for future evaluation as STEC biocontrol agents.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148306685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular characterization and whole-genome sequencing-based genetic evolution of coxsackievirus A16 in Taiyuan City, 2023–2025","authors":"Yanqin Wang,&nbsp;Jihong Xu,&nbsp;Lifeng Zhao,&nbsp;Yunyun Li,&nbsp;Yang Xu,&nbsp;Ruihong Gao,&nbsp;Xiaofang Guo,&nbsp;Min Niu,&nbsp;Zhihong Zuo,&nbsp;Teng An,&nbsp;Jitao Wang","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06670-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06670-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) is a major causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in China. Based on 35 CVA16-positive strains isolated in Taiyuan (2023–2025), we characterized the post-pandemic evolutionary dynamics. Genomic analysis revealed the highest conservation in VP4 and the lowest in the 3’ UTR. Temporally, a shift from B1a/B1b co-circulation to a three-lineage pattern (including a novel B1c subgenotype) was observed. Intertypic recombination was the primary driver, specifically targeting the 5’UTR and VP1/2A junction (B1a with EV71; B1b with CVA4; B1c with both). Crucially, the core P1 capsid region remained intact and recombination-free, preserving major antigenic determinants. Complementing this, positive selection acted on four internal structural residues (VP1‑T97I, VP2‑D139T, VP3‑I2V, VP3‑M126T), stability predictions indicated these substitutions moderately reduced capsid stability, suggesting adaptive tuning of assembly kinetics rather than antigenic drift. Three B1b-specific markers including L23M, I235V and T240A in VP1 further supported temporal adaptation, with no significant geographic divergence between northern and southern strains during overlapping time periods. This study clarifies that CVA16 evolution is driven by non-coding recombination and subtle structural refinement, providing molecular evidence for the sustained antigenic relevance of current vaccine candidates.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148281753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of candidate serotype-specific B-cell epitopes from dengue virus non-structural proteins using an integrated in silico approach","authors":"Parthiban Subramanian,&nbsp;Balamurugan Shanmugaraj,&nbsp;Sathishkumar Ramalingam","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06681-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06681-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted through mosquitoes that pose serious health issues globally. Dengue infection is caused by dengue virus (DENV) that circulates as four serotypes in endemic regions and accurate serotype differentiation is hindered by widespread serological cross-reactivity. DENV is composed of three structural and seven non-structural proteins and in the current study, all seven non-structural (NS) proteins were analyzed using an integrated <i>in silico</i> approach to identify candidate serotype-specific B-cell epitopes carrying potential diagnostic relevance. Multiple sequence alignment, pairwise identity assessment, and phylogenetic relationship of all four DENV serotype amino acid sequences were carried out. Linear B-cell epitopes were predicted using the BepiPred tool with parameters optimized to balance sensitivity and specificity and the ABCPred tool for further sequence-based epitope prediction. This was later followed by structure-based surface epitope prediction using ElliPro. The predicted epitopes were subsequently subjected to a two-step conservancy analysis to evaluate intra-serotype conservation and pan-serotype divergence. The multiple sequence alignment showed that high sequence conservation (~ 98–99%) was observed overall across NS proteins, yet specific aminoacid substitutions were identified that enabled serotype-level discrimination. Initial B-cell epitope prediction resulted in 355 epitopes and 1067 epitopes from BepiPred and ABCPred respectively. Antigenicity, allergenicity and toxicity filters were applied to retain potential antigenic epitopes. Further, initial stringent filtering criteria (≤ 75% intra-serotype conservation and ≤ 30% pan-serotype minimum identity) were applied to increase serotype-specific strictness of the candidate epitopes. Altogether all non-structural proteins yielded 121 epitopes from the BepiPred, ABCPred and ElliPro tools with stricter 50–75% intra-serotype conservation, and ≤ 25% pan-serotype minimum identity. Also, few of the predicted epitopes were in concordance with previous <i>in silico</i> or experimentally validated antigenic regions reported, supporting their biological relevance. Overlap with surface epitopes and stringent filtering suggest that the DENV NS proteins are made of distinct antigenic regions that makes them as potential candidates for serotype-specific differentiation. This workflow for epitope prediction and filtering provides a computational basis for utilizing epitopes for future experimental validation and diagnostic assay development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148281755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel hexasegmented virus isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae","authors":"Vanja Miljanić,&nbsp;Sead Sabanadzovic,&nbsp;Nina Aboughanem-Sabanadzovic,&nbsp;Jernej Jakše,&nbsp;Sebastjan Radišek,&nbsp;Nataša Štajner","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06682-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06682-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, we describe a novel virus, tentatively named Verticillium nonalfalfae virus M (VnaVM), identified in the phytopathogenic fungus <i>Verticillium nonalfalfae</i> isolated from hop (<i>Humulus lupulus</i> L.). The VnaVM genome consists of six double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) segments ranging from 1051 to 2401 bp. DsRNAs 1–3 encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a hypothetical protein and a methyltransferase (MTR), respectively, while dsRNA6 encodes a proline-alanine-serine-rich protein (PASrp). These four proteins share less than 58% amino acid identity with homologs encoded by viruses in the family <i>Polymycoviridae</i>. Products encoded by dsRNAs 4 and 5 show no similarity to known proteins, and their roles in the viral life cycle are unknown. Phylogenetic analysis of RdRp amino acid sequences, together with genome organization and pairwise identity values, supports classifying VnaVM as a representative of a novel species within the genus <i>Multimycovirus</i> (family <i>Polymycoviridae</i>). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a polymycovirid infection in a member of the genus <i>Verticillium</i>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00705-026-06682-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148281745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced virucidal activity of quaternary ammonium compound–thymol combinations: influence of mucin and mucoadhesive polymers","authors":"Amina Ahmady,&nbsp;Ian Mickleburgh,&nbsp;Neil Bryant,&nbsp;George William Carnell,&nbsp;Barbara A. Blacklaws","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06672-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06672-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the potential of oral antiseptic agents to reduce viral transmission. Strategies that enhance and sustain antiviral activity in the oral cavity may further support control of respiratory viruses. In this study, we evaluated the virucidal activity of selected antiseptic agents against influenza A virus (IAV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), individually and in combination, under controlled in vitro conditions. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), benzethonium chloride (BZT), thymol, and tannic acid were assessed using a quantitative suspension assay in the presence of mucin and representative mucoadhesive polymers. Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analyses were performed to characterize interactions between active agents and mucin or polymers. CPC, BZT, and thymol exhibited dose-dependent viral inactivation. CPC reduced IAV and SARS-CoV-2 titres by approximately 4 log₁₀ at &gt; 200 µg/mL and 25 µg/mL, respectively, while thymol achieved comparable reductions at 1000 µg/mL and 750 µg/mL. Tannic acid showed minimal virucidal activity. Notably, CPC–thymol and BZT–thymol combinations achieved &gt; 4 log₁₀ reductions at substantially lower concentrations than individual agents, indicating enhanced virucidal activity and improved cytocompatibility. Mucin markedly attenuated the virucidal activity of CPC–thymol combinations; however, selected polymers partially preserved antiviral efficacy under mucin-rich conditions. Physicochemical analyses suggest that electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrogen-bonding interactions contribute to these effects. These findings demonstrate the enhanced antiviral activity of quaternary ammonium compound–thymol combinations and highlight the influence of mucosal components and macromolecules interactions in modulating oral antiseptic activity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00705-026-06672-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148270033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular epidemiology of DS-1-like G1P[8] rotavirus strains in Vietnam, 2012–2016: Evolutionary dynamics of an unusual rotavirus reassortant","authors":"Pham Thi Tam,&nbsp;Manh Hung Vu,&nbsp;Thi Nguyen Hoa-Tran,&nbsp;Thi Hai Anh Dao,&nbsp;The Anh Nguyen,&nbsp;Thi Hong Duong,&nbsp;Thi Thanh Huyen Dang,&nbsp;Thanh Trung Nguyen,&nbsp;Hong Mai Hoang,&nbsp;Thi Viet Ha Nguyen,&nbsp;Thuy Huong Nguyen,&nbsp;Grabovac Varja,&nbsp;Thomas Sarah,&nbsp;Julie E. Bines,&nbsp;Celeste M. Donato,&nbsp;Futoshi Hasebe,&nbsp;Toshio Kodama,&nbsp;Haruka Abe,&nbsp;Toyoko Nakagomi,&nbsp;Osamu Nakagomi","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06675-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06675-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The segmented genome of <i>Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis</i> facilitates the emergence of unusual reassortants, increasingly documented in the post-vaccine era. However, their long-term evolutionary dynamics and population-level persistence remain poorly understood. We investigated G1P[8] strains detected through hospital-based surveillance in northern and central Vietnam from 2012 to 2016. Electropherotyping, whole-genome sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses were performed to define genomic constellations and reconstruct evolutionary dynamics of DS-1-like reassortants. We documented four-year circulation patterns of DS-1-like G1P[8] strains, emerging in 2012/2013, peaking in mid-2014, and declining by 2016. Among 44 strains exhibiting short electropherotypes, at least three sequential genotype constellations (A–C) were identified: Constellation A likely arose in northern Vietnam through inter-genogroup reassortment between Wa-like G1P[8] (VP7/VP4) and DS-1-like G2P[4] strains; A related variant in central Vietnam suggested regional transmission from contemporaneous strains reported in Thailand and Japan; Constellation B involved acquisition of a Wa-like NSP2 gene; Constellation C included additional reassortment with bovine-like NSP2 and NSP4 genes from a co-circulating G8P[8] strain. No significant differences in clinical severity were observed between DS-1-like and Wa-like infections, and no cases of either genotype were detected among fully vaccinated children. Overall, this study describes a stepwise reassortment process involving intergenogroup, intragenogroup, and potential zoonotic events. Genomic diversification in this setting was not associated with increased virulence or evidence of immune escape. These findings highlight the need for continued genomic surveillance and broader sampling to better resolve the evolutionary dynamics of rotavirus reassortants.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148270025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Novel avian papillomaviruses identified in a south polar skua sampled on Ross Island, Antarctica","authors":"Riley Biter,&nbsp;Melanie Regney,&nbsp;Annie E. Schmidt,&nbsp;Nadia Swanson,&nbsp;Megan Elrod,&nbsp;Amélie Lescroël,&nbsp;Christina Burnham,&nbsp;Dennis Jongsomjit,&nbsp;Suzanne Winquist,&nbsp;Jean Pennycook,&nbsp;David G. Ainley,&nbsp;Katie M. Dugger,&nbsp;Grant Ballard,&nbsp;Simona Kraberger,&nbsp;Arvind Varsani","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06671-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06671-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Papillomaviruses are small circular DNA viruses that infect epithelial cells of their hosts. Avian papillomaviruses are poorly sampled/documented compared to those infecting humans. We used a viral metagenomic approach to identify viruses from the oral swab taken from a deceased south polar skua (<i>Stercorarius maccormicki</i>) found at Cape Royds, Ross Island, Antarctica in late 2024. We identified three papillomaviruses and determined their complete genomes, Stercorarius maccormicki papillomavirus (SmacPV) 1-3. SmacPV1 is the most divergent of the three SmacPVs, sharing 62% genome-wide pairwise identity to SmacPV2 and SmacPV3 and &lt;63.5% to other avian papillomaviruses. The genomes of SmacPV2 and SmacPV3 represent two new papillomavirus types sharing 82.4% genome-wide pairwise identity with each other and &lt;72% to other papillomaviruses. SmacPV2 and SmacPV3 phylogenetically cluster with sequences of the Rissa tridactyla papillomavirus 1 from black-legged kittiwake (<i>Rissa tridactyla</i>), Larus smithsonianus papillomavirus 1 from American herring gull (<i>Larus smithsonianus</i>) and Fratercula arctica papillomavirus 1 from Atlantic puffin (<i>Fratercula arctica</i>), and they collectively represent a new papillomavirus species. These are the first papillomaviruses to be identified in <i>Stercorarius</i> spp<i>.</i> and add to the handful of known papillomaviruses in identified avian species. We also expand the known host range of papillomaviruses in Antarctic animals, which previously included Adélie penguins (<i>Pygoscelis adeliae</i>), Weddell seals (<i>Leptonychotes weddellii</i>), Antarctic fur seals (<i>Arctocephalus gazella</i>), leopard seals (<i>Hydrurga leptonyx</i>) and emerald notothen (<i>Trematomus bernacchii</i>).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148257166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification and characterization of an endogenous pararetrovirus in Gentiana triflora plants","authors":"Masamichi Isogai,&nbsp;Shunsuke Tezuka,&nbsp;Akira Abe,&nbsp;Yutaro Takamura,&nbsp;Hajime Yaegashi","doi":"10.1007/s00705-026-06654-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00705-026-06654-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Deep sequencing and de novo assembly of small RNAs (sRNA analysis) provide a powerful approach to detect plant RNA and DNA viruses. Here, using sRNA analysis of <i>Gentiana triflora</i> (gentian) plants affected with kobu-sho disease, a serious disease of gentian, we found caulimovirus-like sequences, provisionally designated as gentian caulimovirus-like sequence (GCVS). Analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence indicated that GCVS is a novel virus with a genomic structure and organization typical of members of genus <i>Caulimovirus</i> (family <i>Caulimoviridae</i>). Based on Southern blot hybridization and rolling circle amplification analyses, GCVS seems to be integrated into the genomes of a wild gentian plant and three F₁ gentian cultivars and their respective parents and without any episomal viral forms in plants. Consistently, no episomal virus was detected in gentian plants with kobu-sho disease. To confirm GCVS integration in the gentian genome, we used a BLASTn analysis of the gentian draft genome (4,374 contigs; total: 3,657,985,820 nucleotides [nt]) using the GCVS sequence as a query and identified 1,929 GCVS-derived fragments (total: 3,116,680 nt) across 280 contigs. All fragments were shorter than the full-length GCVS genome (8,125 nt), and more than 90% were less than 4,000 nt long. Open reading frames in these fragments encoded proteins containing numerous amino acid substitutions and were frequently disrupted by premature stop codons. Collectively, these features indicate that GCVS represents a non-infectious endogenous pararetrovirus, defined as a pararetroviral sequence that has been integrated into the host genome and is no longer capable of autonomous replication or infection.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8359,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Virology","volume":"171 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00705-026-06654-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148249050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}