Sequence analysis of a non-classified, non-occluded DNA virus that causes salivary gland hypertrophy of Musca domestica, MdSGHV

AbstractThe genome of the virus that causes salivary gland hypertrophy in Musca domestica (MdSGHV) was sequenced. This non-classified, enveloped, double stranded, circular DNA virus had a 124,279bp genome. The G + C content was 43.5% with 108 putative methionine-initiated open reading frames (ORFs). Thirty ORFs had homology to database proteins: eleven to proteins coded by both baculoviruses and nudiviruses (p74, pif-1, pif-2, pif-3, odv-e66, rr1, rr2, iap, dUTPase, MMP, and Ac81-like), seven to nudiviruses (mcp, dhfr, ts, tk and three unknown proteins), one to baculovirus (Ac150-like), one to herpesvirus (dna pol), and ten to cellular proteins. Mass spectrum analysis of the viral particles' protein components identified 29 structural ORFs, with only p74 and odv-e66 previously characterized as baculovirus structural proteins. Although most of the homology observed was to nudiviruses, phylogenetic analysis showed that MdSGHV was not closely related to them or to the baculoviruses

Undergraduate Research in Biotechnology: Course Oriented vs. Individually Developed Research Programs

Research is a major component of The Perry Center’s Biotechnology curricula. The courses are embedded in critical thinking and practical applications. Molecular biology and contemporary laboratory techniques are also covered within this framework. The honors class is designed with a comparative study component. All students perform DNA extraction through bioinformatics analysis. The relative nature of this class introduces students to the collaborative nature of science. The Perry Center also encourages more seasoned students to develop an experimental design of their own interest, and the results are presented at Santa Fe College as well as state wide undergraduate research meetings

Sequence Analysis of the Genome of the Neodiprion sertifer Nucleopolyhedrovirus

The genome of the Neodiprion sertifer nucleopolyhedrovirus (NeseNPV), which infects the European pine sawfly, N. sertifer (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), was sequenced and analyzed. The genome was 86,462 bp in size. The C+G content of 34% was lower than that of the majority of baculoviruses. A total of 90 methionine-initiated open reading frames (ORFs) with more than 50 amino acids and minimal overlapping were found. From those, 43 ORFs were homologous to other baculovirus ORFs, and 29 of these were from the 30 conserved core genes among all baculoviruses. A NeseNPV homolog to the ld130 gene, which is present in all other baculovirus genomes sequenced to date, could not be identified. Six NeseNPV ORFs were similar to non-baculovirus-related genes, one of which was a trypsin-like gene. Only one iap gene, containing a single BIR motif and a RING finger, was found in NeseNPV. Two NeseNPV ORFs (nese18 and nese19) were duplicates transcribed in opposite orientations from each other. NeseNPV did not have an AcMNPV ORF 2 homolog characterized as the baculovirus repeat ORF (bro). Six homologous regions (hrs) were located within the NeseNPV genome, each containing small palindromes embedded within direct repeats. A phylogenetic analysis was done to root the tree based upon the sequences of DNA polymerase genes of NeseNPV, 23 other baculoviruses, and other phyla. Baculovirus phylogeny was then constructed with 29 conserved genes from 24 baculovirus genomes. Culex nigripalpus nucleopolyhedrovirus (CuniNPV) was the most distantly related baculovirus, branching to the hymenopteran NeseNPV and the lepidopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses and granuloviruses