Sequencing and phylogenetic characterization of a novel RNA virus in Arma chinensis.

The complete genome of a novel virus from Arma chinensis was determined by RNA sequencing and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. This virus has a single-stranded RNA genome of 10,540 nucleotides (nt) excluding the poly(A) tail. Two non-overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) in the sense direction were predicted: one long ORF at the 5' end of the genome (6,219 nt) that encodes a polypeptide of 2,072 amino acids (aa), and one short ORF at the 3' end of the genome (3,033 nt) that encodes a polypeptide of 1,010 aa. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the virus clusters within a large cluster of currently unidentified picorna-like viruses with a high bootstrap value. We named the virus isolate Arma chinensis picorna-like virus 1 (AcPV-1). The prevalence of AcPV-1 infection in samples of Arma chinensis from the wild was at a low level (5.48%, 8 positives in 146 samples). Keywords: Arma chinensis; genomic characterization; phylogenetic analysis; Arma chinensis picorna-like virus 1; prevalence.