Identification of a Novel Picorna-Like Virus, Burpengary Virus, That Is Negatively Associated with Chlamydial Disease in the Koala

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints201902.0140.v1
• Publication Date: 2019-02-26T04:11:29Z
• Authors: Erin Harvey; Danielle Madden; Adam Polkinghorne; Edward C. Holmes
• Keywords: Phascolarctos cinereus

Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are native Australian marsupials whose populations in decline from a range of threats. Infectious diseases caused by the bacterium Chlamydia pecorum and other pathogens particular concern. We analysed 26 poly-A selected RNA-sequencing libraries data set designed to study immune response koalas ocular chlamydial infection. Using virus discovery techniques, we identified coding-complete genome sequence novel picorna-like virus, denoted Burpengary that was most common south-east Queensland. Notably, abundance measurements across all revealed an inverse relationship prevalence with disease Koalas, suggesting co-infection between is inhibited.