Identification of two novel papillomaviruses in belugas

• Published in: Frontiers in Microbiology
• Main Authors: Li, Youyou, Xiao, Meifang, Zhang, Yun, Li, Zihan, Bai, Shijie, Su, Haoxiang, Peng, Ruoyan, Wang, Gaoyu, Hu, Xiaoyuan, Song, Xinran, Li, Xin, Tang, Chuanning, Lu, Gang, Yin, Feifei, Zhang, Peijun, Du, Jiang
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Frontiers Media SA 2023
• Subjects: Microbiology (medical); Microbiology; Beluga; Beluga*; Delphinapterus leucas; Killer Whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1165839; https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1165839/full

Introduction Papillomaviruses (PVs) can cause hyperplasia in the skin and mucous membranes of humans, mammals, and non-mammalian animals, and are a significant risk factor for cervical and genital cancers. Methods Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we identified two novel strains of papillomavirus, PV-HMU-1 and PV-HMU-2, in swabs taken from belugas ( Delphinapterus leucas ) at Polar Ocean Parks in Qingdao and Dalian. Results We amplified the complete genomes of both strains and screened ten belugas and one false killer whale ( Pseudorca crassidens ) for the late gene (L1) to determine the infection rate. In Qingdao, 50% of the two sampled belugas were infected with PV-HMU-1, while the false killer whale was negative. In Dalian, 71% of the eight sampled belugas were infected with PV-HMU-2. In their L1 genes, PV-HMU-1 and PV-HMU-2 showed 64.99 and 68.12% amino acid identity, respectively, with other members of Papillomaviridae . Phylogenetic analysis of combinatorial amino acid sequences revealed that PV-HMU-1 and PV-HMU-2 clustered with other known dolphin PVs but formed distinct branches. PVs carried by belugas were proposed as novel species under Firstpapillomavirinae . Conclusion The discovery of these two novel PVs enhances our understanding of the genetic diversity of papillomaviruses and their impact on the beluga population.