Complete genome sequence of a novel virus, classifiable within the Potyviridae family, which infects passion fruit (Passiflora edulis)

Abstract

We report the complete nucleotide sequence of a new member of the Potyviridae family isolated from passion fruit plants grown in Israel, called Passiflora edulis symptomless virus (PeSV). The PeSV genome is 9,928 nucleotides long and encodes a 3,173 amino acids polyprotein that is predicted to be proteolytically cleaved into 10 mature peptides. Our phylogenetic analysis shows that PeSV represents a new species, and is most closely related to rose yellow mosaic virus (RoYMV). According to currently accepted criteria for genus demarcation, both viruses should be assigned as representative isolates of new species in the recently approved genus, Roymovirus, in the Potyviridae family.

Identification of Pomegranate as a New Host of Passiflora Edulis Symptomless Virus (PeSV) and Analysis of PeSV Diversity

“…Potyviridae family virions are flexuous filaments and usually are 680-900nm long and 11-20 nm wide, with helical symmetry and a pitch of about 3.4 nm [18]. Flexuous filamentous rods, ranging from 720 to 750 nm in length, were also observed for the rose yellow mosaic virus (RoYMV) [25] which is most closely related to passiflora edulis symptomless virus [17].…”

“…The raw number of reads obtained from these libraries were respectively 13,611,066 and 20,918,456 reads which resulted in the assembly of respectively 3690 and 6078 contigs longer than 200 nucleotides (Table S1). BLASTn analysis using the GenBank nr-nt database identified viral contigs with strong identity levels with passiflora edulis symptomless virus (PeSV), a recently proposed new member of the family Potiviridae, genus Roymovirus identified in Israel from passionfruit [17]. Complementary analysis using BLASTx revealed also the presence of sequences related to the RdRp (MN532630; MN532627) of Plasmopara viticola lesion associated ourmia-like virus and RdRp (MN386961) of apple ourmia-like virus 1.…”

“…This genome encodes a polyprotein of 3174 amino acids which is later cleaved into ten functional proteins. The encoded polyprotein lacks known aphid transmission motifs in its HC-Pro and CP domains but possesses a C-2x-C motif putatively involved in eriophyid transmission in its HC-Pro [17]. The PeSV-PS1-5 genome shares an overall 86.8% nucleotide identity with that of PeSV-Rehovot.…”

“…Its 9928 nt genome encodes a polyprotein predicted to be processed into ten polypeptides. The genome of these two new viral species shows some peculiarities, in particular, a putative additional NIa-Pro cleavage site at the protein 6K2-NIa-VPg junction, the absence of aphid transmission motifs in both HC-Pro and CP, as well as the presence of a putative eriophyid mite transmission motif in the CP [17].…”

“…These viruses are transmitted mainly by arthropods [16]. Passiflora edulis symptomless virus (PeSV) has been recently proposed as a new member of the family Potiviridae, genus Roymovirus, identified in Israel infecting passionfruit [17]. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the polyprotein of roymoviruses share the greatest identities with other viruses in the family Potyviridae, but they are not clearly closer to members of any particular genera in the family.…”