Genomic and epidemiological investigations reveal chromosomal integration of the acipenserid herpesvirus 3 genome in Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens

Viruses
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Abstract

DNA sequence from a new alloherpesvirus named acipenserid herpesvirus 3 (AciHV-3) was found in sturgeon species that are vulnerable to decline globally. A study was undertaken to develop a better understanding of the virus genome and to develop diagnostic tools to support an epidemiological investigation. A 184,426 bp genome was assembled from PacBio HiFi sequences generated with DNA from a Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens gonad cell line. The AciHV-3 genome was contiguous with host chromosomal DNA and was structured with telomere-like terminal direct repeat regions, five internal direct repeat regions and a U region that included intact open reading frames encoding alloherpesvirus core proteins. Diagnostic testing conducted with a newly developed and analytically validated qPCR assay established the ubiquitous presence and high titer of AciHV-3 DNA in somatic and germline tissues from wild Lake Sturgeon in the Hudson Bay drainage basin. Phylogenetic reconstructions confirm that the monophyletic AciHV-3 lineage shares a common ancestor with AciHV-1 and that AciHV-3 taxa cluster according to their sturgeon host. The same genotype of AciHV-3 is found in disjunctive Lake Sturgeon populations within and among drainage basins. The results support the hypotheses that AciHV-3 has established latency through germline chromosomal integration, is vertically transmitted via a Mendelian pattern of inheritance, is evolving in a manner consistent with a replication competent virus and has co-evolved with its host reaching genetic fixation in Lake Sturgeon populations in central Canada.

Suggested Citation

Clouthier, S., Rosani, U., Khan, A., Ding, Q., Emmenegger, E.J., Wang, Z., Nalpathamkalam, T., Thiruvahindrapuram, B., 2025, Genomic and epidemiological investigations reveal chromosomal integration of the acipenserid herpesvirus 3 genome in Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens: Viruses, v. 17, no. 4, 534, 38 p., https://doi.org/10.3390/v17040534.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Genomic and epidemiological investigations reveal chromosomal integration of the acipenserid herpesvirus 3 genome in Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens
Series title Viruses
DOI 10.3390/v17040534
Volume 17
Issue 4
Publication Date April 05, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher MDPI
Contributing office(s) Western Fisheries Research Center
Description 534, 38 p.
Country Canada
Other Geospatial Hudson Bay drainage basin
Additional publication details