Identification and Genomic Analysis of a Novel Group C Orthobunyavirus Isolated from a Mosquito Captured near Iquitos, Peru

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Apr 13;10(4):e0004440. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004440. eCollection 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Group C orthobunyaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses found in both South and North America. Until very recently, and despite their status as important vector-borne human pathogens, no Group C whole genome sequences containing all three segments were available in public databases. Here we report a Group C orthobunyavirus, named El Huayo virus, isolated from a pool of Culex portesi mosquitoes captured near Iquitos, Peru. Although initial metagenomic analysis yielded only a handful of reads belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus, single contig assemblies were generated for L, M, and S segments totaling over 200,000 reads (~0.5% of sample). Given the moderately high viremia in hamsters (>107 plaque-forming units/ml) and the propensity for Cx. portesi to feed on rodents, it is possible that El Huayo virus is maintained in nature in a Culex portesi/rodent cycle. El Huayo virus was found to be most similar to Peruvian Caraparu virus isolates and constitutes a novel subclade within Group C.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cricetinae
  • Culex / virology*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Genomics / methods
  • Humans
  • Orthobunyavirus / classification
  • Orthobunyavirus / genetics*
  • Orthobunyavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Peru
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • RNA, Viral

Grants and funding

This work was funded under Agreement No. HSHQDC-07-C-00020 awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) for the management and operation of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.