Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe
The picornavirus named ‘Ljungan virus’ (LV, species <i>Parechovirus B</i>) has been detected in a dozen small mammal species from across Europe, but detailed information on its genetic diversity and host specificity is lacking. Here, we analyze the evolutionary relationships of LV varian...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1317 |
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| author | Chiara Rossi Nicola Zadra Cristina Fevola Frauke Ecke Birger Hörnfeldt René Kallies Maria Kazimirova Magnus Magnusson Gert E. Olsson Rainer G. Ulrich Anne J. Jääskeläinen Heikki Henttonen Heidi C. Hauffe |
| author_facet | Chiara Rossi Nicola Zadra Cristina Fevola Frauke Ecke Birger Hörnfeldt René Kallies Maria Kazimirova Magnus Magnusson Gert E. Olsson Rainer G. Ulrich Anne J. Jääskeläinen Heikki Henttonen Heidi C. Hauffe |
| author_sort | Chiara Rossi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The picornavirus named ‘Ljungan virus’ (LV, species <i>Parechovirus B</i>) has been detected in a dozen small mammal species from across Europe, but detailed information on its genetic diversity and host specificity is lacking. Here, we analyze the evolutionary relationships of LV variants circulating in free-living mammal populations by comparing the phylogenetics of the VP1 region (encoding the capsid protein and associated with LV serotype) and the 3D<sup>pol</sup> region (encoding the RNA polymerase) from 24 LV RNA-positive animals and a fragment of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) sequence (used for defining strains) in sympatric small mammals. We define three new VP1 genotypes: two in bank voles (<i>Myodes glareolus</i>) (genotype 8 from Finland, Sweden, France, and Italy, and genotype 9 from France and Italy) and one in field voles (<i>Microtus arvalis</i>) (genotype 7 from Finland). There are several other indications that LV variants are host-specific, at least in parts of their range. Our results suggest that LV evolution is rapid, ongoing and affected by genetic drift, purifying selection, spillover and host evolutionary history. Although recent studies suggest that LV does not have zoonotic potential, its widespread geographical and host distribution in natural populations of well-characterized small mammals could make it useful as a model for studying RNA virus evolution and transmission. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:21:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb19b9d0477b4b37b6bd9da38ac0cd99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:21:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb19b9d0477b4b37b6bd9da38ac0cd992023-11-22T05:14:05ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-07-01137131710.3390/v13071317Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across EuropeChiara Rossi0Nicola Zadra1Cristina Fevola2Frauke Ecke3Birger Hörnfeldt4René Kallies5Maria Kazimirova6Magnus Magnusson7Gert E. Olsson8Rainer G. Ulrich9Anne J. Jääskeläinen10Heikki Henttonen11Heidi C. Hauffe12Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, TN, ItalyDepartment of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, TN, ItalyDepartment of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, TN, ItalyDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Environmental Microbiology Working Group Microbial Interaction Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, GermanySlovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Institute of Zoology, 845 06 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, SwedenInstitute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, GermanyHUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, FI-00029 Helsinki, FinlandWildlife Ecology, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), FI-00790 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, TN, ItalyThe picornavirus named ‘Ljungan virus’ (LV, species <i>Parechovirus B</i>) has been detected in a dozen small mammal species from across Europe, but detailed information on its genetic diversity and host specificity is lacking. Here, we analyze the evolutionary relationships of LV variants circulating in free-living mammal populations by comparing the phylogenetics of the VP1 region (encoding the capsid protein and associated with LV serotype) and the 3D<sup>pol</sup> region (encoding the RNA polymerase) from 24 LV RNA-positive animals and a fragment of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) sequence (used for defining strains) in sympatric small mammals. We define three new VP1 genotypes: two in bank voles (<i>Myodes glareolus</i>) (genotype 8 from Finland, Sweden, France, and Italy, and genotype 9 from France and Italy) and one in field voles (<i>Microtus arvalis</i>) (genotype 7 from Finland). There are several other indications that LV variants are host-specific, at least in parts of their range. Our results suggest that LV evolution is rapid, ongoing and affected by genetic drift, purifying selection, spillover and host evolutionary history. Although recent studies suggest that LV does not have zoonotic potential, its widespread geographical and host distribution in natural populations of well-characterized small mammals could make it useful as a model for studying RNA virus evolution and transmission.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1317<i>Picornaviridae</i><i>Parechovirus B</i>Ljungan virus isolatessmall mammalsrodent-borne viruszoonosis |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Rossi Nicola Zadra Cristina Fevola Frauke Ecke Birger Hörnfeldt René Kallies Maria Kazimirova Magnus Magnusson Gert E. Olsson Rainer G. Ulrich Anne J. Jääskeläinen Heikki Henttonen Heidi C. Hauffe Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe Viruses <i>Picornaviridae</i> <i>Parechovirus B</i> Ljungan virus isolates small mammals rodent-borne virus zoonosis |
| title | Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe |
| title_full | Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe |
| title_fullStr | Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe |
| title_short | Evolutionary Relationships of Ljungan Virus Variants Circulating in Multi-Host Systems across Europe |
| title_sort | evolutionary relationships of ljungan virus variants circulating in multi host systems across europe |
| topic | <i>Picornaviridae</i> <i>Parechovirus B</i> Ljungan virus isolates small mammals rodent-borne virus zoonosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1317 |
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