Trichomonasvirus: a new genus of protozoan viruses in the family Totiviridae

Arch Virol. 2011 Jan;156(1):171-9. doi: 10.1007/s00705-010-0832-8. Epub 2010 Oct 26.

Abstract

The family Totiviridae includes a number of viruses with monosegmented dsRNA genomes and isometric virions that infect either fungi or a number of medically important protozoan parasites such as Leishmania and Giardia. A new genus, Trichomonasvirus, was recently proposed for this family. Its name is based on the genus of its host organism, Trichomonas vaginalis, a protozoan parasite that colonizes the human genitourinary mucosa and is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection in the world. The type species of this new genus is Trichomonas vaginalis virus 1. Distinguishing characteristics of the new genus include infection of a human sexually transmitted parasite, stable mixed infection with more than one distinct Trichomonasvirus species, and sequence-based phylogenetic divergence that distinguishes it from all other family members.

Publication types

  • News
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Genome, Viral
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Totiviridae / classification*
  • Totiviridae / genetics*
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / virology*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Viral Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF127178
  • GENBANK/AF325840
  • GENBANK/DQ270032
  • GENBANK/U08999
  • GENBANK/U57898