A Novel Astrovirus-Like RNA Virus Detected in Human Stool

Bas B. Oude Munnink, Matthew Cotten, Marta Canuti, Martin Deijs, Maarten F. Jebbink, Formijn J. van Hemert, My V. T. Phan, Margreet Bakker, Seyed Mohammad Jazaeri Farsani, Paul Kellam, Lia van der Hoek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Several novel clades of astroviruses have recently been identified in human faecal samples. Here, we describe a novel astrovirus-like RNA virus detected in human stools, which we have tentatively named bastrovirus. The genome of this novel virus consists of 6,300 nucleotides organized in three open reading frames. Several sequence divergent strains were detected sharing 67-93 per cent nucleotide identity. Bastrovirus encodes a putative structural protein that is homologous to the capsid protein found in members of the Astroviridae family (45% amino acid identity). The virus also encodes a putative non-structural protein that is genetically distant from astroviruses but shares some homology to the non-structural protein encoded by members of the Hepeviridae family (28% amino acid identity). This novel bastrovirus is present in 8.7 per cent (35/400) of faecal samples collected from 300 HIV-1-positive and 100 HIV-1-negative individuals suggesting common occurrence of the virus. However, whether the source of the virus is infected human cells or other, for example, dietary, remains to be determined
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)vew005
JournalVirus evolution
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Cite this