Understanding Iridoviruses: Their Genomic Diversity and Evolution
Author Information
Author(s): Heather E. Eaton, Brooke A. Ring, Craig R. Brunetti
Primary Institution: Trent University
Hypothesis
To explore the phylogenetic relationship between individual iridoviruses and define the core-set of genes shared by all members of the family.
Conclusion
The study identified unique and shared repetitive sequences among iridoviruses, which can help in their identification and understanding of their evolutionary relationships.
Supporting Evidence
- Iridoviruses have been found to infect a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
- The study identified a core set of genes shared by all members of the Iridoviridae family.
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed evolutionary relationships among 14 iridovirus species.
- Repetitive sequences can provide a method for examining the evolution of viruses.
- Changes in copy number of repetitive sequences may help differentiate closely related virus strains.
Takeaway
Iridoviruses are a family of large viruses that can infect various animals, and this study helps us understand how they are related to each other by looking at their genes.
Methodology
Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using sequence alignments of 26 conserved iridovirus genes shared by 14 iridoviruses.
Limitations
The study did not include the RSIV genome due to its unavailability.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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