The Complete Genome Sequence of Herpesvirus Papio 2 ( Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 16 ) Shows Evidence of Recombination Events among Various Progenitor Herpesviruses

Abstract

We have sequenced the entire genome of herpesvirus papio 2 (HVP-2; Cercopithecine herpesvirus 16) strain X313, a baboon herpesvirus with close homology to other primate alphaherpesviruses, such as SA8, monkey B virus, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2. The genome of HVP-2 is 156,487 bp in length, with an overall GC content of 76.5%. The genome organization is identical to that of the other members of the genus Simplexvirus, with a long and a short unique region, each bordered by inverted repeats which end with an "a" sequence. All of the open reading frames detected in this genome were homologous and colinear with those of SA8 and B virus. The HSV gene RL1 (␥ 1 34.5; neurovirulence factor) is not present in HVP-2, as is the case for SA8 and B virus. The HVP-2 genome is 85% homologous to its closest relative, SA8. However, segment-bysegment bootstrap analysis of the genome revealed at least two regions that display closer homology to the corresponding sequences of B virus. The first region comprises the UL41 to UL44 genes, and the second region is located within the UL36 gene. We hypothesize that this localized and defined shift in homology is due to recombination events between an SA8-like progenitor of HVP-2 and a herpesvirus species more closely related to the B virus. Since some of the genes involved in these putative recombination events are determinants of virulence, a comparative analysis of their function may provide insight into the pathogenic mechanism of simplexviruses.

Genome sequence of a pathogenic isolate of monkey B virus (species Macacine herpesvirus 1)

“…Predicted transcriptional grouping of BVcy genes was consistent with that previously reported for BVrh as well as simian herpesviruses HVP2 and SA8 [11, 13, 14, 21, 22]. The BVcy ‘a’ repeat has two copies of the DR1 element as in HSV [23], while BVrh E2490 has only one [14].…”

“…One strain of BV (E2490) has been attenuated for use as a vaccine [9] and serves as the reference BV strain. The sequence of the BV E2490 genome has been determined and is arranged much like the genome of HSV and other nonhuman primate α-herpesvirus genomes [11, 13, 14, 16, 20-22]. …”

Genome Analysis of a Glossina pallidipes Salivary Gland Hypertrophy Virus Reveals a Novel, Large, Double-Stranded Circular DNA Virus

“…The very low GϩC content of 28% of the GpSGHV genome significantly differs from those reported for most invertebrate viruses with large circular dsDNA genomes, including baculoviruses (33 to 58% GϩC) (36), nudiviruses (42% GϩC), (14,79) (with the exception of the cricket nudivirus GbNV [28% GϩC] [79]), nimaviruses (41% GϩC) (75,84), and ascoviruses (35.5 to 49% GϩC) (7,10,78). It also differs from those of the large linear dsDNA genomes of herpesviruses (35 to 75% GϩC) (74) and of most iridoviruses (49% GϩC) (73), except Chilo iridescent virus and lymphocystis disease virus (both 29% GϩC) (34,72), but is closer to the low (18 to 27%) GϩC content of entomopoxviruses (2,8).…”

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 UL56 Interacts with the Ubiquitin Ligase Nedd4 and Increases Its Ubiquitination

“…The HSV UL56 gene is an accessory gene that most members of the Alphaherpesvirinae family possess homologs for (except bovine herpes virus-1 and -5) (1,17,19,22,29,34,37,46,53,(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70); M. Schwyzer, V. Paces, G. J. Letchworth, V. Misra, H. J. Buhk, D. E. Lowery, C. Simard, L. J. Bello, E. Thiry, and C. Vlcek, 1995, complete DNA sequence of bovine herpesvirus 1. GenBank database [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/index .html] accession number NC_001847) and has been shown to play an important role in HSV type 1 (HSV-1) pathogenicity in vivo.…”