Molecular characterization of a novel fusarivirus infecting the plant-pathogenic fungus Alternaria solani

Arch Virol. 2021 Jul;166(7):2063-2067. doi: 10.1007/s00705-021-05105-y. Epub 2021 May 13.

Abstract

A novel mycovirus belonging to the proposed family "Fusariviridae" was discovered in Alternaria solani by sequencing a cDNA corresponding to double-stranded RNA extracted from this phytopathogenic fungus. The virus was tentatively named "Alternaria solani fusarivirus 1" (AsFV1). AsFV1 has a single-stranded positive-sense (+ssRNA) genome of 6845 nucleotides containing three open reading frames (ORFs) and a poly(A) tail. The largest ORF, ORF1, encodes a large polypeptide of 1,556 amino acids (aa) with conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and helicase domains. The ORF2 and ORF3 have overlapping regions, encoding a putative protein of 522 amino acids (aa) and a putative protein of 105 amino acids (aa), respectively, both of unknown function. A multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that AsFV1 could be a new member of the "Fusariviridae". This is the first report of the full-length nucleotide sequence of a fusarivirus that infects Alternaria solani.

MeSH terms

  • Alternaria / virology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Fungal Viruses / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral / genetics
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Plants / microbiology*
  • RNA Viruses / genetics
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase