Identification of Novel Betaherpesviruses in Iberian Bats Reveals Parallel Evolution

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169153
• Publication Date: 2017-01-09T22:07:31Z
• Authors: Francisco Pozo; Javier Juste; Sonia Vázquez-Morón; Carolina Aznar-López; Carlos Ibáñez; Inazio Garin; Joxerra Aihartza; Inmaculada Casas; Antonio Tenorio; Juan Emilio Echev...
• Keywords: Monophyly; Subfamily; Lineage (genetic)

A thorough search for bat herpesviruses was carried out in oropharyngeal samples taken from most of the species present Iberian Peninsula Vespertilionidae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae and Rhinolophidae families, addition to a colony captive fruit bats Pteropodidae family. By using two degenerate consensus PCR methods targeting conserved genes, distinct previously unrecognized bat-hosted were identified tested species. All together total 42 potentially novel partially characterized. Thirty-two them tentatively assigned Betaherpesvirinae subfamily while remaining 10 allocated into Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily. Significant diversity observed among sequences when compared with type herpesvirus ICTV-approved genera. The inferred phylogenetic relationships showed that betaherpesviruses fell well-supported unique monophyletic clade support recognition new betaherpesvirus genus. This is subdivided three major clades, corresponding families studied. supports hypothesis species-specific parallel evolution process between their hosts. Interestingly, betaherpesviruses' detected rhinolophid clustered apart rest, closely related viruses belong Roseolovirus suggests putative third roseolo lineage. On contrary, no structure several gammaherpesviruses found study. Remarkably, all possible described this study are linked