Genomic and phylogenetic characterization of a bunya-like virus from the freshwater Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Abstract

The freshwater Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), an indigenous crustacean in China, has been cultured for more than 30 years. It was reported that the bunya-like virus from Eriocheir sinensis (EsBV) was associated with the tremor disease (TD), which causes high mortality and has a serious impact on production. In this study, full-length genome sequences of EsBV were pursued using next generation sequencing; the genome of EsBV was found to be composed of 6.7 kb L, 3.3 kb M, and 0.8 kb S segments, respectively. PCR detection based genomic sequences showed that the positive rate of EsBV reached 40% in crabs from farming ponds. EsBV had the highest similarity with the Wenling crustacean virus 9, an unassigned, negative sense ssRNA virus. EsBV clustered with the Wenling crustacean virus 9 firstly, and then the branch clustered with Peribunyaviridae clade in every phylogenetic tree -based on L, M and S encoded sequences, respectively, indicating that EsBV can be classified in the family Peribunyaviridae, to which the orthobunyaviruses belongs, but not belonging to any known genera in the family Peribunyaviridae. There were unique complimentary terminal sequences for EsBV, with only partial consensus with members from the orthobunyaviruses. We believe that the findings of this research will be vital for future research about EsBV and will also go a long way in illuminating its relationship with TD.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Cruliviridae 2023

“…Current taxonomy: ictv.global/taxonomy. Crulivirids are most closely related to fimovirids, hantavirids, peribunyavirids, phasmavirids, tospovirids and tulasvirids [4][5][6] (Fig. 2).…”

“…The crulivirid genome comprises three segments (small [S], medium [M] and large [L]) of linear negative-sense RNA with a total length of 10.8–11.5 kb (S segment: about 0.8–1.6 kb; M segment: about 3.2–3.6 kb; and L segment: about 6.7 kb) (). Each segment contains one ORF that encodes an NP, a GP, and an L protein containing an RdRP domain; some members also encode a Z protein of unknown function on the S segment [1, 3, 4] ().…”

“…Current taxonomy: ictv.global/taxonomy. Crulivirids are most closely related to fimovirids, hantavirids, peribunyavirids, phasmavirids, tospovirids and tulasvirids [4–6] (). The family includes the genus Lincruvirus and several species for viruses that infect crustaceans.…”

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Mypoviridae 2023

“…Mypovirids are most closely related to arenavirids, discovirids, leishbuvirids, nairovirids, phenuivirids, and wupedevirids [4, 5] (). The family includes the genus Hubavirus for viruses that infect myriapods.…”

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Wupedeviridae 2023

“…Current taxonomy: ictv.global/taxonomy. Wupedevirids are most closely related to arenavirids, discovirids, leishbuvirids, mypovirids, nairovirids, and phenuivirids [2–4] (). The family includes the genus Wumivirus for viruses that infect myriapods (millipedes).…”