Identification of a Novel Picorna-like Virus in Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (Oryctes rhinoceros)

Abstract

A novel Picorna-like virus, tentatively named Oryctes rhinoceros Picorna-like virus 1 (OrPV1), was identified in coconut rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) larvae in Taiwan. The complete genome sequence consisted of 9,665 nucleotides with a polyA tail and included one open reading frame. Conserved structural domains such as Picornavirus capsid protein, RNA helicase, Peptidase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) were identified through Pfam domain searches. The genome shares approximately 28% identity with other unclassified picornavirals that infect honey bees (Darwin bee virus 2, Bundaberg bee virus 5, and Sacbrood virus) and a recently reported virus from Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis virus 1). We did not detect this virus in any other geographical populations of O. rhinoceros collected from the South Pacific Islands and the Philippines. Analysis of the deduced RdRp amino acid sequences showed that the virus clustered with other Picorna-like viruses and separated from other members of family Dicistroviridae and Iflaviridae.

Complete genome analysis of a novel picorna-like virus from a ladybird beetle (Cheilomenes sexmaculata)

“…(Culex picorna-like virus) [8]. For Coleoptera, several picorna-like viruses has been reported from different host insect families, such as Scarabaeidae (oryctes rhinoceros) [9], Chrysomelidae (Aulacophora lewisii) [10] and Coccinellidae (Harmonia axyridis) [11]. Cheilomenes sexmaculata, another member of the family Coccinellidae, is an important aphidophagous predator for the biocontrol of agricultural pests, which is widely distributed in Asia [12].…”