Pingu virus: A new picornavirus in penguins from Antarctica. Issue 2 (13th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Souza, William Marciel; Fumagalli, Marcílio Jorge; Martin, Matheus Cavalheiro; de Araujo, Jansen; Orsi, Maria Angela; Sanfilippo, Luiz Francisco; Modha, Sejal; Durigon, Edison Luiz; Proença-Módena, José Luiz; Arns, Clarice Weis; Murcia, Pablo Ramiro; Figueiredo, Luiz Tadeu Moraes
• Is Part Of: Virus evolution. Volume 5:Issue 2(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12-13
• Subjects: picornavirus -- penguins -- Antarctica -- virus discovery -- metagenomics; Viruses -- Evolution -- Periodicals; 579.2138
• DOI: 10.1093/ve/vez047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2057-1577

Abstract

Abstract: Picornaviridae family comprises single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses distributed into forty-seven genera. Picornaviruses have a broad host range and geographic distribution in all continents. In this study, we applied a high-throughput sequencing approach to examine the presence of picornaviruses in penguins from King George Island, Antarctica. We discovered and characterized a novel picornavirus from cloacal swab samples of gentoo penguins ( Pygoscelis papua ), which we tentatively named Pingu virus. Also, using RT-PCR we detected this virus in 12.9 per cent of cloacal swabs derived from P. papua, but not in samples from adélie penguins ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) or chinstrap penguins ( Pygoscelis antarcticus ). Attempts to isolate the virus in a chicken cell line and in embryonated chicken eggs were unsuccessful. Our results expand the viral diversity, host range, and geographical distribution of the Picornaviridae .