Isolation and characterization of a new Vesivirus from rabbits

Abstract

This report describes the isolation, cDNA cloning, complete genome nucleotide sequence, and partial characterization of a new cultivable calicivirus isolated from juvenile feeder European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) showing symptoms of diarrhea. Absence of neutralization by type-specific neutralizing antibodies for 40 caliciviruses and phylogenetic sequence comparisons of the open reading frame 1-encoded polyprotein with those of other caliciviruses demonstrate that this new calicivirus is a putative novel member of the Vesivirus genus which is closely related to the marine calicivirus subgroup. According to its putative classification, this new virus has been named rabbit vesivirus.

The future biological control of pest populations of European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus

“…This cultivable calicivirus was recently isolated from dead or diseased young rabbits with diarrhoea from a rabbitry in Oregon in the United States (Martín-Alonso et al 2005;Percy and Barthold 2007). Percy and Barthold (2007) commented that 'The importance of this isolate as a pathogen in commercial rabbitries is yet to be determined' (see also Martín-Alonso et al (2005) on this point).…”

“…Percy and Barthold (2007) commented that 'The importance of this isolate as a pathogen in commercial rabbitries is yet to be determined' (see also Martín-Alonso et al (2005) on this point). The virus's origin, host specificity, mode of transmission and possible utility as a BCA are also unclear, but warrant further investigation.…”

Structural and functional analysis of virus factories purified from Rabbit vesivirus-infected Vero cells

“…Rabbit vesivirus (Martin-Alonso et al, 2005) was propagated using Vero cells cultured in minimum essential medium supplemented with foetal bovine serum (10%), and antibiotics.…”

“…4A). According to the previously published putative RaV processing map (Martin-Alonso et al, 2005), based on the substrate specificity found for calicivirus 3C-like protease (Wirblich et al, 1995), the estimated molecular masses for RaV non-structural and structural proteins would be 31.7 kDa (2AB), 39.1 kDa (putative NTPase 2C), 30.7 kDa (3A), 12.4 kDa (3B, genome linked protein VPg), 76.6 kDa (bifunctional protease-polymerase, 3CD) and 60.8 kDa (mature capsid protein, mCap). The Western blots using specific R␣2AB serum revealed the presence of a singlespecific reacting polypeptide of about 33 kDa (Fig.…”

“…Rabbit vesivirus (RaV), has been recently characterized as a putative new member of the genus Vesivirus within the family Caliciviridae (Martin-Alonso et al, 2005). The virus genome, a single-stranded positive-sense RNA of about 8.3 kb in length, is covalently linked at its 5 -terminus to a small virus protein (VPg) and is polyadenylated at its 3 -end.…”