New insights into the evolutionary and genomic landscape of molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) based on nine MCV1 and six MCV2 complete genome sequences

Zorec, Tomaž Mark (author), Kutnjak, Denis (author), Hošnjak, Lea (author), Kušar, Blanka (author), Trčko, Katarina (author), Kocjan, Boštjan (author), Li, Yu (author), Križmarić, Miljenko (author), Miljković, Jovan (author), Ravnikar, Maja (author), Poljak, Mario (author)

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is the sole member of the Molluscipoxvirus genus and the causative agent of molluscum contagiosum (MC), a common skin disease. Although it is an important and frequent human pathogen, its genetic landscape and evolutionary history remain largely unknown. In this study, ten novel complete MCV genome sequences of the two most common MCV genotypes were determined (five MCV1 and five MCV2 sequences) and analyzed together with all MCV complete genomes previously deposited in freely accessible sequence repositories (four MCV1 and a single MCV2). In comparison to MCV1, a higher degree of nucleotide sequence conservation was observed among MCV2 genomes. Large-scale recombination events were identified in two newly assembled MCV1 genomes and one MCV2 genome. One recombination event was located in a newly identified recombinant region of the viral genome, and all previously described recombinant regions were re-identified in at least one novel MCV genome. MCV genes comprising the identified recombinant segments have been previously associated with viral interference with host T-cell and NK-cell immune responses. In conclusion, the two most common MCV genotypes emerged along divergent evolutionary pathways from a common ancestor, and the differences in the heterogeneity of MCV1 and MCV2 populations may be attributed to the strictness of the constraints imposed by the host immune response.

• Language: English
• Keywords: molluscum contagiosum virus, complete genome, recombination, immune evasion, evolution, genetic landscape
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2018
• Number of pages: 24 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, iss. 11, art. 586
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-132015
• UDC: 616.9
• ISSN on article: 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v10110586
• COBISS.SI-ID: 34025433
• Publication date in RUL: 08.10.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Viruses
• Shortened title: Viruses
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1999-4915
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517597977

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.11.2018

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: virus molluscum contagiosum, popolni genom, rekombinacija

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P3-0083
• Name: Odnosi parazitskega obstajanja

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0165
• Name: Biotehnologija in sistemska biologija rastlin