Discovery and genetic characterization of novel paramyxoviruses related to the genus henipavirus in crocidura species in the republic of Korea

Seung Ho Lee, Kijin Kim, Jongwoo Kim, Jin Sun No, Kyungmin Park, Shailesh Budhathoki, Seung Ho Lee, Jingyeong Lee, Seung Hye Cho, Seungchan Cho, Geum Young Lee, Jusun Hwang, Heung Chul Kim, Terry A. Klein, Chang Sub Uhm, Won Keun Kim, Jin Won Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Paramyxoviruses, negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, pose a critical threat to human public health. Currently, 78 species, 17 genera, and 4 subfamilies of paramyxoviruses are harbored by multiple natural reservoirs, including rodents, bats, birds, reptiles, and fish. Henipaviruses are critical zoonotic pathogens that cause severe acute respiratory distress and neurological diseases in humans. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, 115 Crocidura species individuals were examined for the prevalence of paramyxovirus infections. Paramyxovirus RNA was observed in 26 (22.6%) shrews collected at five trapping sites, Republic of Korea. Herein, we report two genetically distinct novel paramyxoviruses (genus: Henipavirus): Gamak virus (GAKV) and Daeryong virus (DARV) isolated from C. lasiura and C. shantungensis, respectively. Two GAKVs and one DARV were nearly completely sequenced using next-generation sequencing. GAKV and DARV contain six genes (3’-N-P-M-F-G-L-5´) with genome sizes of 18,460 nucleotides and 19,471 nucleotides, respectively. The phylogenetic inference demonstrated that GAKV and DARV form independent genetic lineages of Henipavirus in Crocidura species. GAKV-infected human lung epithelial cells elicited the induction of type I/III interferons, interferon-stimulated genes, and proinflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, this study contributes further understandings of the molecular prevalence, genetic characteristics and diversity, and zoonotic potential of novel para-myxoviruses in shrews.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2020
JournalViruses
Volume13
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Oct

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Crocidura paramyxovirus
  • Genetic characterization and diversity
  • Next-generation sequencing
  • Novel virus discovery
  • Potential zoonosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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