Open AccessNovel circular DNA viruses in stool samples of wild-living chimpanzees
Author(s) -
Olga Blinkova,
Joseph Victoria,
Yuyan Li,
Brandon F. Keele,
Crickette Sanz,
J.-B. N. Ndjango,
Martine Peeters,
Dominic A. Travis,
Eric V. Lonsdorf,
Michael L. Wilson,
Anne E. Pusey,
Beatrice H. Hahn,
Eric Delwart
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of general virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.55
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1465-2099
pISSN - 0022-1317
DOI - 10.1099/vir.0.015446-0
Subject(s) - biology , genome , virology , dna , genetics , rolling circle replication , rna dependent rna polymerase , metagenomics , circular dna , human virome , plant virus , gene , viral evolution , dna sequencing , viral replication , virus , dna polymerase , polymerase
Viral particles in stool samples from wild-living chimpanzees were analysed using random PCR amplification and sequencing. Sequences encoding proteins distantly related to the replicase protein of single-stranded circular DNA viruses were identified. Inverse PCR was used to amplify and sequence multiple small circular DNA viral genomes. The viral genomes were related in size and genome organization to vertebrate circoviruses and plant geminiviruses but with a different location for the stem-loop structure involved in rolling circle DNA replication. The replicase genes of these viruses were most closely related to those of the much smaller (approximately 1 kb) plant nanovirus circular DNA chromosomes. Because the viruses have characteristics of both animal and plant viruses, we named them chimpanzee stool-associated circular viruses (ChiSCV). Further metagenomic studies of animal samples will greatly increase our knowledge of viral diversity and evolution.
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