1. Genetic diversity of astroviruses detected in wild aquatic birds in Hong Kong.
- Author
-
Ng DYM, Sun W, Sit THC, Brackman CJ, Tse ACN, Bui CHT, Tang AWY, Wong ANC, Tsang ATL, Koo JCT, Cheng SMS, Peiris M, Chin AWH, and Poon LLM
- Subjects
- Animals, Hong Kong, Animals, Wild virology, Bird Diseases virology, High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing, Avastrovirus genetics, Avastrovirus classification, Avastrovirus isolation & purification, RNA, Viral genetics, Open Reading Frames, Astroviridae genetics, Astroviridae isolation & purification, Astroviridae classification, Phylogeny, Genetic Variation, Birds virology, Genome, Viral, Feces virology, Astroviridae Infections veterinary, Astroviridae Infections virology
- Abstract
Wild waterfowl serve as a reservoir of some astroviruses. Fecal samples from wild waterfowl collected at Hong Kong's Marshes were tested using pan-astrovirus reverse transcription-PCR. Positive samples underwent subsequent host identification using DNA barcoding. Based on deduced partial sequences, noteworthy samples from three astrovirus groups (mammalian, avian and unclassified astroviruses) were further analyzed by next-generation sequencing. One sample of Avastrovirus 4 clade, MP22-196, had a nearly complete genome identified. The results of ORF2 phylogenetic analysis and genetic distance analysis indicate that Avastrovirus 4 is classified as a distinct subclade within Avastrovirus. MP22-196 has typical astrovirus genome characteristics. The unique characteristics and potential differences of this genome, compared to other avian astrovirus sequences, involve the identification of a modified sgRNA sequence situated near the ORF2 start codon, which precedes the ORF1b stop codon. Additionally, the 3' UTR of MP22-196 is shorter than other avian astroviruses. This study expands our understanding of the Avastrovirus 4 clade., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF