Diverse single-stranded DNA viruses identified in New Zealand (Aotearoa) South Island robin (Petroica australis) fecal samples

Joy M Custer; Robyn White; Helen Taylor; Kara Schmidlin; Rafaela S Fontenele; Daisy Stainton; Simona Kraberger; James V Briskie; Arvind Varsani

doi:10.1016/j.virol.2021.10.004

Diverse single-stranded DNA viruses identified in New Zealand (Aotearoa) South Island robin (Petroica australis) fecal samples

Virology. 2022 Jan 2:565:38-51. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.10.004. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Authors

Joy M Custer¹, Robyn White², Helen Taylor³, Kara Schmidlin¹, Rafaela S Fontenele¹, Daisy Stainton⁴, Simona Kraberger¹, James V Briskie⁵, Arvind Varsani⁶

Affiliations

¹ The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
² Biocontrol and Molecular Ecology Group, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand.
³ Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Conservation Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
⁴ Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
⁵ School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. Electronic address: jim.briskie@canterbury.ac.nz.
⁶ The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: arvind.varsani@asu.edu.

PMID: 34715607
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.10.004

Abstract

The South Island robin (Petroica australis) is a small passerine bird endemic to New Zealand (Aotearoa). Although its population has declined recently and it is considered 'at risk,' little research has been done to identify viruses in this species. This study aimed to survey the diversity of single-stranded DNA viruses associated with South Island robins in a small, isolated population on Nukuwaiata Island. In total, 108 DNA viruses were identified from pooled fecal samples collected from 38 individual robins sampled. These viruses belong to the Circoviridae (n = 10), Genomoviridae (n = 12), and Microviridae (n = 73) families. A number of genomes that belong to the phylum Cressdnaviricota but are otherwise unclassified (n = 13) were also identified. These results greatly expand the known viral diversity associated with South Island robins, and we identify a novel group of viruses most closely related genomoviruses.

Keywords: Circoviridae; Cressdnaviricota; Genomoviridae; Microviridae; Nukuwaiata island; Petroica australis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
DNA Viruses / classification*
DNA Viruses / genetics
DNA Viruses / isolation & purification
DNA, Single-Stranded
DNA, Viral
Feces / virology*
Genome, Viral
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
Microbiota
New Zealand
Phylogeny
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Songbirds / virology*

Substances

DNA, Single-Stranded
DNA, Viral