Identification of the genome sequence of Zostera associated varicosavirus 1, a novel negative-sense RNA virus, in the common eelgrass (Zostera marina) transcriptome

Varicosaviruses (the genus Varicosavirus) are bipartite, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that infect plants. We analyzed a transcriptome dataset isolated from the common eelgrass (Zostera marina) and identified a novel varicosavirus named Zostera associated varicosavirus 1 (ZaVV1). The ZaVV1 genome consists of two genomic segments: RNA1 (6,632-nt) has an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a large multi-functional polymerase protein (L), while RNA2 (4,304-nt) has four ORFs: one for a nucleocapsid protein and three for proteins with unknown functions (P2, P3, and P4). Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis using L proteins showed that ZaVV1 is a novel member of the genus Varicosavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. The conserved regulatory elements involved in transcription termination/polyadenylation and transcription initiation were identified in the ZaVV1 gene-junction regions with the consensus sequence 3'-UAUUAUUCUUUUUGCUCU-5' (in the negative-sense genome). The ZaVV1 genome sequence may be useful for studying the phylogenetic relationships of varicosaviruses and genome evolution of rhabdoviruses.

Automated summary

Varicosaviruses are bipartite RNA viruses that infect plants, with ZaVV1 being a novel member identified from common eelgrass. The genome of ZaVV1 consists of two segments, encoding different proteins with unknown functions.