The genome of Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV) reveals novel genetic connection between baculoviruses infecting moths of the Lymantriidae family

Abstract

BackgroundDapuNPV (Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus), presented in this report, belongs to Alphabaculovirus group Ib. Its full, newly sequenced genome shows close relationship to baculovirus OpMNPV isolated from douglas-fir tussock moth Orgyia pseudotsugata. Baculovirus DapuNPV is a natural limiter of pale tussock moth Dasychira pudibunda L. (syn. Calliteara pudibunda L.)(Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae), which can occur in a form of an outbreak on many species of deciduous trees and may cause significant economic losses in the forests.MethodsLate instars dead larvae of pale tussock moth were mechanically homogenized and polyhedra were purified during series of ultracentrifugation. Viral DNA was extarcted and sequenced using Miseq Illumina platform. 294,902 paired reads were used for de novo assembling. Genome annotation, multiple allingment to others baculoviruses and phylogegentic analises were perform with the use of multiple bioinformatic tools like: Glimmer3, HMMER web server, Geneious 7 and MEGA6.ResultsThe genome of DapuNPV is 136,761 bp long with AT pairs content 45.6 %. The predicted number of encoded putative open reading frames (ORFs) is 161 and six of them demonstrate low or no homology to ORFs previously found in baculoviruses. DapuNPV genome shows very high similarity to OpMNPV in a nucleotide sequence (91.1 % of identity) and gene content (150 homologous ORFs), though some major differences (e.g. lack of he65 in OpMNPV) have also been noted.ConclusionsSimilarly to other members of the Baculoviridae family, DapuNPV baculovirus possesses highly conserved core genes. Among them, there is a second copy of occluded derived virus envelope 27 protein (odv-e27), which was previously found only in a member of Alphabaculovirus group II – LyxyMNPV (Lymantria xylina MNPV). Surprisingly enough, DapuNPV and LyxyMNPV genomes share also another feature. Phylogenetic analysis of chitin binding family protein (cbpl) indicates significant similarity of those two baculoviruses from distinct evolutionary groups which infect the same hosts from Lymantriidae. The ubiquitin like family gene (ubil), which has not been described until now, is another characteristic component of DapuNPV genome.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1963-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genomic sequencing of Troides aeacus nucleopolyhedrovirus (TraeNPV) from golden birdwing larvae (Troides aeacus formosanus) to reveal defective Autographa californica NPV genomic features

“…The HE65 protein is one of the RNA ligase families, and it acts as an early transcription gene involved in RNA replication, transcription and modification as well as in G-actin localization in the nucleus during AcMNPV cell infection. Although truncated he65 was found in the genome, it is considered a nonessential protein for AcMNPV and BmNPV [91, 92].…”

The Operophtera brumata Nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpbuNPV) Represents an Early, Divergent Lineage within Genus Alphabaculovirus

“…The LdMNPV DNA ligase III gene product has been shown to ligate nicks in a double-stranded DNA substrate, suggesting that it may play a role in viral DNA replication or repair [ 30 ]. Homologs of hrf-1 have only been identified in LdMNPV, Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV) [ 31 ], and Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpMNPV) [ 32 ], while baculovirus homologs of DNA ligase III have been found only in LdMNPV, Lymantria xylina nucleopolyhedrovirus (LyxyMNPV-5) [ 33 ], Sucra jujuba nucleopolyhedrovirus (SujuNPV) [ 34 ], and Orgyia leucostigma nucleopolyhedrovirus (OrleNPV) [ 35 ].…”

Habitat Description, Host Preference and Reproductive Behavior of Tussock Moth, Orgyia Dubia Tausch. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), at the Egyptian Northwestern Coast

“…Many of the tussock moths of the family Lymantriidae are defoliators of forest trees (Carvalho, 1972 andMason, 1974). When abundant enough, the larvae of several species can defoliate an entire tree overnight, resulting in considerable damage to forestry and associated negative economic impacts (Krejmer et al, 2015 andCui et al, 2011). In Egypt, only two papers have been published reporting the presence of O. dubia and this species is among the least recorded species on either wild or economically important plants in the country El-Said, 1970 andHegazi et al, 1980).…”