New Variants of Squash Mosaic Viruses Detected in Human Fecal Samples

Author(s):Show less -

Villanova, Fabiola ^[1] ; Marcatti, Roberta ^{[2, 3]} ; Bertanhe, Mayara ^{[2, 3, 4]} ; Morais, Vanessa dos Santos ^{[2, 3]} ; de Padua Milagres, Flavio Augusto ^{[5, 6]} ; Brustulin, Rafael ^{[5, 6]} ; Lima Araujo, Emerson Luiz ^[7] ; Tahmasebi, Roozbeh ^{[2, 3]} ; Witkin, Steven S. ^{[2, 8, 3]} ; Deng, Xutao ^{[9, 10]} ; Delwart, Eric ^{[9, 10]} ; Sabino, Ester Cerdeira ^{[2, 3]} ; Abreu-Junior, Cassio Hamilton ^[11] ; Leal, Elcio ^[1] ; da Costa, Antonio Charlys ^{[2, 3]}

Affiliation:Show less -

^[1] Univ Fed Para, Inst Ciencias Biol, Lab Diversidade Viral, BR-66075000 Belem, Para - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Molestias Infecciosas & Parasitarias, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Inst Med Trop, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Tocantins, Inst Ciencias Biol, BR-77001090 Palmas, TO - Brazil

^[6] Publ Hlth Lab Tocantins State LACEN TO, BR-77016330 Palmas, TO - Brazil

^[7] Minist Hlth CGLAB DAEVS SVS MS, Dept Hlth, Labs Strateg Articulat, Gen Coordinat Publ Hlth, Surveillance Secretariat, BR-70719040 Brasilia, DF - Brazil

^[8] Weill Cornell Med, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 - USA

^[9] Univ Calif San Francisco, Dept Lab Med, San Francisco, CA 94143 - USA

^[10] Vitalant Res Inst, 270 Masonic Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143 - USA

^[11] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Nucl Energy Agr, BR-3400970 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROORGANISMS; v. 9, n. 7 JUL 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Squash mosaic virus (SqMV) is a phytovirus that infects great diversity of plants worldwide. In Brazil, the SqMV has been identified in the states of Ceara, Maranhao, Piaui, Rio Grande do Norte, and Tocantins. The presence of non-pathogenic viruses in animals, such as phytoviruses, may not be completely risk-free. Similarities in gene repertories between these viruses and viruses that affect animal species have been reported. The present study describes the fully sequenced genomes of SqMV found in human feces, collected in Tocantins, and analyzes the viral profile by metagenomics in the context of diarrhea symptomatology. The complete SqMV genome was obtained in 39 of 253 analyzed samples (15.5%); 97.4% of them belonged to children under 5 years old. There was no evidence that the observed symptoms were related to the presence of SqMV. Of the different virus species detected in these fecal samples, at least 4 (rotavirus, sapovirus, norovirus, parechovirus) are widely known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence of SqMV nucleic acid in fecal samples is likely due to recent dietary consumption and it is not evidence of viral replication in the human intestinal cells. Identifying the presence of SqMV in human feces and characterization of its genome is a relevant precursor to determining whether and how plant viruses interact with host cells or microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/00021-9 - Viral metagenomics to track, explain and predict the transmission and spatiotemporal spread of Dengue and Chikungunya viruses in Brazil
• Grantee: Antonio Charlys da Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/21706-5 - Viral metagenomics of mosquitoes captured in the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Vanessa dos Santos Morais
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)