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Cyclovirus genomes contain two major ORFs encoding the replication-associated protein (Rep) and capsid protein (Cp). . In contrast to members of the genus Circovirus, cycloviruses have the putative ori on the Cp-encoding strand (Rosario et al., 2012). In addition, cyclovirus genomes have an intergenic region (IR) between the 5′-end of major ORFs; however, the IR between the 3′-ends of these ORFs is smaller than that of genomes representing the genus Circovirus or may be absent (Li et al., 2010, Delwart and Li 2012). Introns have been identified within the ORFs of several cyclovirus genomes, while none have been reported for circoviruses.
Unknown.
Cycloviruses exhibit small, circular ssDNA genomes ranging from 1.7 to 1.9 kb.
Cyclovirus genomes contain two major ORFs encoding the Rep and Cp (Figure 2.Circovirus) (Rosario et al., 2017). Although the virion strand has not be experimentally demonstrated for cycloviruses, knowledge from other eukaryotic Rep-encoding ssDNA viruses suggests that the strand containing the nonanucleotide motif is encapsidated (Rosario et al., 2012). Since the putative cyclovirus ori and predicted Rep share conserved features with members of the genus Circovirus, cycloviruses are also thought to replicate through rolling circle replication (RCR). Similar to circoviruses, the putative cyclovirus ori contains the canonical nonanucleotide motif ‘NAGTATTAC’ located at the apex of a potential stem-loop structure found between the 5สน-ends of major ORFs. In addition, the Rep contains endonuclease and helicase domains with RCR and SF3 motifs similar to those identified in circovirus Reps. These conserved motifs include RCR motifs I [FT(L/W)NN], II [(P/x)HLQG] and III [Y(C/l)(S/x)K] and SF3 helicase motifs Walker-A [G(P/x)(P/t)(G/x)xGKS], Walker-B [uuDDF], and motif C [uTS(N/e)], where ‘‘x’’ represents any type of residue and ‘‘u’’ represents a hydrophobic amino acid (i.e., F, I, L, V, M). Moreover, putative Rep-binding domains characterized by iterative sequences near the stem-loop structure have been identified for some cyclovirus genomes (Dayaram et al., 2013).
Cyclovirus genomes were originally discovered in primate stool samples and meat products from a diverse range of animals (camels, chickens, cows, goats, sheep) (Li et al., 2010, Delwart and Li 2012). However, cyclovirus genomes have now been reported from various types of human samples other than faeces, including cerebrospinal fluid, blood serum, and respiratory secretions (Smits et al., 2013, Tan le et al., 2013, Phan et al., 2014, Phan et al., 2015). Additionally, cycloviruses have been detected in samples from a wide range of mammalian and insect species (Rosario et al., 2017). Since genomes belonging to the genus Cyclovirus have only been identified through sequence-based analyses (i.e., degenerate PCR and metagenomic sequencing), definitive hosts and biology are largely unknown.
The species demarcation threshold is 80% genome-wide nucleotide sequence identity based on pairwise identity distribution analysis (Figure 3.Circovirus) (Rosario et al., 2017).
Cyclo: from cyclo, latinised form of kyklos in Greek, meaning a circle, wheel or ring