Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern China

<i>Hunnivirus</i> is a novel member of the family <i>Picornaviridae</i>. A single species, <i>Hunnivirus A</i>, is currently described. However, there is limited information on the identification of <i>Hunnivirus</i> to date, and thereby the circulatio...

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Main Authors: Minyi Zhang, Qiushuang Li, Fei Wu, Zejin Ou, Yongzhi Li, Fangfei You, Qing Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/661
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author Minyi Zhang
Qiushuang Li
Fei Wu
Zejin Ou
Yongzhi Li
Fangfei You
Qing Chen
author_facet Minyi Zhang
Qiushuang Li
Fei Wu
Zejin Ou
Yongzhi Li
Fangfei You
Qing Chen
author_sort Minyi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description <i>Hunnivirus</i> is a novel member of the family <i>Picornaviridae</i>. A single species, <i>Hunnivirus A</i>, is currently described. However, there is limited information on the identification of <i>Hunnivirus</i> to date, and thereby the circulation of <i>Hunnivirus</i> is not fully understood. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, genomic characteristics, and evolution of rat hunnivirus in southern China. A total of 404 fecal samples were subjected to detection of <i>Hunnivirus</i> from urban rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>) using PCR assay based on specific primers targeted to partial 3D regions, with the prevalence of 17.8% in <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and 15.6% in <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>. An almost full-length rat hunnivirus sequence (RatHuV/YY12/CHN) and the genome structure were acquired in the present study. Phylogenetic analysis of the P1 coding regions suggested the RatHuV/YY12/CHN sequence was found to be within the genotype of <i>Hunnivirus A4</i>. The negative selection was further identified based on analysis of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution rates. The present findings suggest that hunniviruses are common in urban rats. Further research is needed for increased surveillance and awareness of potential risks to human health.
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spelling doaj.art-7da2f219e0a74c6cb369ab527c6ef56e2023-11-21T21:45:04ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-05-0110666110.3390/pathogens10060661Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern ChinaMinyi Zhang0Qiushuang Li1Fei Wu2Zejin Ou3Yongzhi Li4Fangfei You5Qing Chen6Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China<i>Hunnivirus</i> is a novel member of the family <i>Picornaviridae</i>. A single species, <i>Hunnivirus A</i>, is currently described. However, there is limited information on the identification of <i>Hunnivirus</i> to date, and thereby the circulation of <i>Hunnivirus</i> is not fully understood. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, genomic characteristics, and evolution of rat hunnivirus in southern China. A total of 404 fecal samples were subjected to detection of <i>Hunnivirus</i> from urban rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>) using PCR assay based on specific primers targeted to partial 3D regions, with the prevalence of 17.8% in <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and 15.6% in <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>. An almost full-length rat hunnivirus sequence (RatHuV/YY12/CHN) and the genome structure were acquired in the present study. Phylogenetic analysis of the P1 coding regions suggested the RatHuV/YY12/CHN sequence was found to be within the genotype of <i>Hunnivirus A4</i>. The negative selection was further identified based on analysis of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution rates. The present findings suggest that hunniviruses are common in urban rats. Further research is needed for increased surveillance and awareness of potential risks to human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/661<i>Picornavirus</i>murine rodentsdetectiongenome structurephylogenetic analysisselective pressure
spellingShingle Minyi Zhang
Qiushuang Li
Fei Wu
Zejin Ou
Yongzhi Li
Fangfei You
Qing Chen
Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern China
Pathogens
<i>Picornavirus</i>
murine rodents
detection
genome structure
phylogenetic analysis
selective pressure
title Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern China
title_full Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern China
title_fullStr Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern China
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern China
title_short Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Evolution of <i>Hunnivirus</i> Carried by <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> and <i>Rattus tanezumi</i>: The First Epidemiological Evidence from Southern China
title_sort epidemiology genetic characterization and evolution of i hunnivirus i carried by i rattus norvegicus i and i rattus tanezumi i the first epidemiological evidence from southern china
topic <i>Picornavirus</i>
murine rodents
detection
genome structure
phylogenetic analysis
selective pressure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/661
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