Dataset Information

Detection and characterization of a novel bat-borne coronavirus in Singapore using multiple molecular approaches.

ABSTRACT: Bats are important reservoirs and vectors in the transmission of emerging infectious diseases. Many highly pathogenic viruses such as SARS-CoV and rabies-related lyssaviruses have crossed species barriers to infect humans and other animals. In this study we monitored the major roost sites of bats in Singapore, and performed surveillance for zoonotic pathogens in these bats. Screening of guano samples collected during the survey uncovered a bat coronavirus (Betacoronavirus) in Cynopterus brachyotis, commonly known as the lesser dog-faced fruit bat. Using a capture-enrichment sequencing platform, the full-length genome of the bat CoV was sequenced and found to be closely related to the bat coronavirus HKU9 species found in Leschenault's rousette discovered in the Guangdong and Yunnan provinces.

SUBMITTER: Lim XF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7079695 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Detection and characterization of a novel bat-borne coronavirus in Singapore using multiple molecular approaches.

Lim Xiao Fang XF Lee Chengfa Benjamin CB Pascoe Sarah Marie SM How Choon Beng CB Chan Sharon S Tan Jun Hao JH Yang Xinglou X Zhou Peng P Shi Zhengli Z Sessions October M OM Wang Lin-Fa LF Ng Lee Ching LC Anderson Danielle E DE Yap Grace G

The Journal of general virology 20190816 10

Bats are important reservoirs and vectors in the transmission of emerging infectious diseases. Many highly pathogenic viruses such as SARS-CoV and rabies-related lyssaviruses have crossed species barriers to infect humans and other animals. In this study we monitored the major roost sites of bats in Singapore, and performed surveillance for zoonotic pathogens in these bats. Screening of guano samples collected during the survey uncovered a bat coronavirus (<i>Betacoronavirus</i>) in <i>Cynopteru ...[more]

PMID: 31418677

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Project description:BackgroundLates calcarifer, known as seabass in Asia and barramundi in Australia, is a widely farmed species internationally and in Southeast Asia and any disease outbreak will have a great economic impact on the aquaculture industry. Through disease investigation of Asian seabass from a coastal fish farm in 2015 in Singapore, a novel birnavirus named Lates calcarifer Birnavirus (LCBV) was detected and we sought to isolate and characterize the virus through molecular and biochemical methods.MethodsIn order to propagate the novel birnavirus LCBV, the virus was inoculated into the Bluegill Fry (BF-2) cell line and similar clinical signs of disease were reproduced in an experimental fish challenge study using the virus isolate. Virus morphology was visualized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Biochemical analysis using chloroform and 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BUDR) sensitivity assays were employed to characterize the virus. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) was also used to obtain the virus genome for genetic and phylogenetic analyses.ResultsThe LCBV-infected BF-2 cell line showed cytopathic effects such as rounding and granulation of cells, localized cell death and detachment of cells observed at 3 to 5 days' post-infection. The propagated virus, when injected intra-peritoneally into naïve Asian seabass under experimental conditions, induced lesions similar to fish naturally infected with LCBV. Morphology of LCBV, visualized under TEM, revealed icosahedral particles around 50 nm in diameter. Chloroform and BUDR sensitivity assays confirmed the virus to be a non-enveloped RNA virus. Further genome analysis using NGS identified the virus to be a birnavirus with two genome segments. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that LCBV is more closely related to the Blosnavirus genus than to the Aquabirnavirus genus within the Birnaviridae family.ConclusionsThese findings revealed the presence of a novel birnavirus that could be linked to the disease observed in the Asian seabass from the coastal fish farms in Singapore. This calls for more studies on disease transmission and enhanced surveillance programs to be carried out to understand pathogenicity and epidemiology of this novel virus. The gene sequences data obtained from the study can also pave way to the development of PCR-based diagnostic test methods that will enable quick and specific identification of the virus in future disease investigations.

Dataset Information

Detection and characterization of a novel bat-borne coronavirus in Singapore using multiple molecular approaches.

Publications

Detection and characterization of a novel bat-borne coronavirus in Singapore using multiple molecular approaches.

Similar Datasets

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