Complete sequence of an isolate of snake melon asteroid mosaic virus confirms that it is a member of a distinct sobemovirus species

A virus tentatively named snake melon asteroid mosaic virus (SMAMV) was found in Sudan in cucurbit crops (10% of 600 samples) between 1992 and 2003. Biological and cytological properties as well as sequence data on a 345-nt fragment suggested that SMAMV was a member of the genus Sobemovirus. However, no complete sequence had been obtained, and the relationship between SMAMV and the acknowledged sobemoviruses had not been ascertained. In this work, we obtained the full-length sequence of an SMAMV isolate. The sequence was 4225 nt long, with a typical sobemovirus genetic organization. Sequence identity to other sobemoviruses was below 50%, both for the full-length genome and for individual proteins. These data confirm that SMAMV belongs to a novel sobemovirus species.

Automated summary

A novel virus tentatively named snake melon asteroid mosaic virus (SMAMV) was discovered in cucurbit crops in Sudan, showing sequence data suggesting it belongs to the genus Sobemovirus. The full-length sequence of an SMAMV isolate was obtained, confirming it as a new species of Sobemovirus. Sequence identity to other Sobemoviruses was below 50%, indicating a distinct relationship.