Characterization and Phylogeny of a New Type of Virus from the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta)
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Yang, Wen-Chen
Abstract
Rapidly evolving pathogens provide a powerful approach to address population dynamic of the host, under several circumstances, in a more detailed fashion than the genetic marker from host’s genome. Previous studies have shown that Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1) often accompanies with the recent invasions of its host, the red imported fire ant (S. invicta), into Taiwan, Hong Kong and China in last decades. This virus, with its extremely high mutation and fast evolution, may therefore serve as an additional genetic marker that potentially compensates reduced host’s genetic variation associated with small propagule size during invasion. The present study therefore employs sequences of four viral protein genes (VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4) in ORF2 to reveal that most of recently introduced SINV-1 genotypes in Asia are different from those previously published, suggesting the possible involvement of adaptive selection. Sequence analyses from those viral genes indicate that this SINV-1 genotype identified in the recently introduced areas can also be found in the USA, suggesting that SINV-1 is introduced from the US to Taiwan. For better understanding of this newly-discovered genotype, the whole genome sequence of the genotype of this virus was obtained, and viral phylogenomic analysis confirms it a derived variant of SINV-1, and called it SINV-1-Asia. Other SINV-1 genotypes might present in those recently introduced areas because SINV-1-Asia originated from the US can also be found in Asia. Based on this idea, I did find SINV-1 (TX5)-like sequences at VP4 in sample (number 138) collected in Taiwan. It therefore seems possible to find SINV-1 and SINV-1A in newly introduced areas.
Subjects
pathogens
phylogenetic
Solenopsis invicta
viral protein
Type
thesis
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