Two novel bornaviruses identified in colubrid and viperid snakes

Abstract

We present the complete genome sequences of Caribbean watersnake bornavirus (CWBV) and Mexican black-tailed rattlesnake bornavirus (MRBV), which we identified in archived raw transcriptomic read data of a Caribbean watersnake (Tretanorhinus variabilis) and a Mexican black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus nigrescens), respectively. The genomes of CWBV and MRBV have a length of about 8,900 nucleotides and comprise the complete coding regions and the untranslated regions. The overall genomic makeup and predicted gene content is typical for members of the genus Orthobornavirus within the family Bornaviridae. Alternative splicing was detected for the L and M genes. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of all viral proteins, we consider both viruses to be members of a single novel species within the genus Orthobornavirus. Both viruses form a distinct outgroup to all currently known orthobornaviruses. Based on the novel virus genomes, we furthermore identified closely related endogenous bornavirus-like nucleoprotein sequences in transcriptomic data of veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and a common lancehead (Bothrops atrox).

2022 taxonomic update of phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales

“…Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) and a Mexican black-tailed rattlesnake (viperid Crotalus molossus nigrescens Gloyd, 1936), respectively [49] (TaxoProp 2021.021M.R.Orthobornavirus_1nsp).…”

Avian Bornavirus Research—A Comprehensive Review

“…Several more distantly related reptilian orthobornaviruses have been described exclusively in snakes [ 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Relatively little is known about the genera Carbovirus and Cultervirus that comprise viruses of snakes or fish, respectively [ 28 , 32 , 42 , 43 ].…”

Identification of RNA virus-derived RdRp sequences in publicly available transcriptomic datasets

“…Splicing is a very rare phenomenon in RNA viruses (excluding retroviruses) and is known only in a few cases – notably bornaviruses (Cubitt et al, 1994; Schneider et al, 1994; Tomonaga et al, 2000; Pfaff & Rubbenstroth, 2021) and various orthomyxoviruses (Inglis & Brown, 1981; Shih et al, 1998; Kochs et al, 2000; Wise et al, 2012), and Culex tritaeniorhynchus rhabdovirus (family Rhabdoviridae ) where a single 76 nt intron was identified in the RdRp ORF (Kuwata et al, 2011).…”