J Gen Virol Email Content Delivery
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Gen Virol 87 (2006), 2115-2125; DOI 10.1099/vir.0.81966-0

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McInnes, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Nettleton, P. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by McInnes, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Nettleton, P. F.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by McInnes, C. J.
Right arrow Articles by Nettleton, P. F.
© 2006 Society for General Microbiology

Genomic characterization of a novel poxvirus contributing to the decline of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in the UK

Colin J. McInnes1, Ann R. Wood1, Kathryn Thomas1, Anthony W. Sainsbury2, John Gurnell3, F. Joshua Dein4 and Peter F. Nettleton1

1 Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, UK
2 Institute of Zoology, London, UK
3 Queen Mary, University of London, UK
4 National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, USA

Correspondence
Colin J. McInnes
Colin.mcinnes{at}moredun.ac.uk

The genome of a virulent squirrelpox virus (SQPV) isolate was characterized in order to determine its relationship with other poxviruses. Restriction enzyme analysis suggested a genome length of approximately 158 kb, whilst sequence analysis of the two ends of the genome indicated a G+C composition of approximately 66 %. Two contiguous stretches of 23 and 37 kb at the left-hand and right-hand ends of the genome, respectively, were sequenced allowing the identification of at least 59 genes contained therein. The partial sequence of a further 15 genes was determined by spot sequencing of restriction fragments located across the genome. Phylogenetic analysis of 15 genes conserved in all the recognized genera of the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae confirmed that the SQPV does not group within the family Parapoxvirinae, but instead partitions on its own in a separate clade of the poxviruses. Analysis of serum from British woodland rodents failed to find any evidence of SQPV infection in wood mice or bank voles, but for the first time serum samples from grey squirrels in the USA were found to contain antibody against SQPV.

Published online ahead of print on 24 April 2006 as DOI 10.1099/vir.0.81966-0

The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the sequences reported in this paper are DQ377804 and DQ377805.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
INT J SYST EVOL MICROBIOL MICROBIOLOGY J GEN VIROL
J MED MICROBIOL ALL SGM JOURNALS
Copyright © 2006 by the Society for General Microbiology.