Comparative Genomic Analysis of Hyperthermophilic Archaeal Fuselloviridae Viruses
Blake Wiedenheft, Kenneth Stedman, Francisco Roberto, Deborah Willits,
Anne-Kathrin Gleske, Luisa Zoeller, Jamie Snyder, Trevor Douglas,
and Mark Young
Journal of Virology, 2004
Abstract
The complete genome sequences of two Sulfolobus spindle-shaped viruses (SSVs) from acidic hot springs in
Kamchatka (Russia) and Yellowstone National Park (United States) have been determined. These nonlytic
temperate viruses were isolated from hyperthermophilic Sulfolobus hosts, and both viruses share the spindleshaped
morphology characteristic of the Fuselloviridae family. These two genomes, in combination with the
previously determined SSV1 genome from Japan and the SSV2 genome from Iceland, have allowed us to carry
out a phylogenetic comparison of these geographically distributed hyperthermal viruses. Each virus contains
a circular double-stranded DNA genome of ~15 kbp with approximately 34 open reading frames (ORFs). These
Fusellovirus ORFs show little or no similarity to genes in the public databases. In contrast, 18 ORFs are
common to all four isolates and may represent the minimal gene set defining this viral group. In general, ORFs
on one half of the genome are colinear and highly conserved, while ORFs on the other half are not. One shared
ORF among all four genomes is an integrase of the tyrosine recombinase family. All four viral genomes
integrate into their host tRNA genes. The specific tRNA gene used for integration varies, and one genome
integrates into multiple loci. Several unique ORFs are found in the genome of each isolate.
NOTE: the article text supplied here is for educational purposes only.
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