Multiple clades of Husavirus in South America revealed by next generation sequencing

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 23;16(3):e0248486. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248486. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Husavirus (HuV) is an unclassified virus of the order Picornavirales that has already been identified worldwide in various locations. The genetic, epidemiological, and pathogenic characteristics are, however, little understood. In children with acute gastroenteritis, this study used next-generation sequencing to recognize unknown sources of viruses. In particular, 251 fecal samples obtained from individuals were sequenced in southern, northeastern, and northern Brazil. all samples were also analyzed using culture methods and parasitological tests to classify other enteric pathogens such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses. 1.9% of the samples tested positive for HuV, for a total of 5 positive children, with a mean age of 2 year, with three males and two females. Detailed molecular characterization of full genomes showed that Brazilian HuVs' nucleotide divergence is less than 11%. The genetic gap between Brazilian sequences and the closest HuV reported previously, on the other hand, is 18%. The study showed that Brazilian sequences are closely related to the HuV defined in Viet Nam in 2013, further characterization based on phylogenetics. At least two divergent clades of HuV in South America were also seen in the phylogenetic study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Picornaviridae Infections* / epidemiology
  • Picornaviridae Infections* / virology
  • Positive-Strand RNA Viruses* / classification
  • Positive-Strand RNA Viruses* / isolation & purification

Grants and funding

ACC has a scholarship provided by Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo/ FAPESP (2017/00021-9), EL has a scholarship provided by the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa/CNPq (302677/2019-4) and AL is supported by CNPq (400450/2016-0) and FAPESP (2015/12944-9). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.