Coronaviruses in rodents and insectivores in Altai Republic

Coronaviruses (family Coronaviridae, genera Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus) are dangerous viral pathogens that have caused three outbreaks of severe respiratory diseases, SARS, MERS, COVID-19. In Russia, data on coronaviruses in natural reservoirs are limited, as investigations began only during the COVID-19 pandemic.The aim. To study the diversity of coronaviruses among rodents and insectivores in the Republic of Altai.Materials and methods. Rodents (n  =  67) and shrews (n  =  52) were captured in 2022. Samples were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing.Results and conclusions. Four samples from rodents (Myodes rutilus, M. glareolus, Apodemus peninsulae, A. agrarius) and two samples from an insectivore (Crocidura sibirica) were positive for coronaviruses, among which three different coronaviruses were detected. Rodent-borne coronaviruses are classified in the genus Betacoronavirus, subgenera Embecovirus, and have shown host associated clustering. The nucleotide sequences of Siberian coronaviruses from rodents were identical for closely related species (M. rutilus and M. glareolus, A. agrarius and A. peninsulae) and close (> 94 % homology) to previously published sequences in each of the groups of carriers found in the territory Novosibirsk region, Europe and China. The coronavirus identified from the insectivore, possibly belonging to a new subgenera of the family Coronaviridae, has also been assigned to the genus Betacoronavirus.Conclusion. Five species of natural carriers of three different coronaviruses were detected in the Altai Republic. A high level of identity of coronaviruses genomes from rodents has been revealed, indicating a relatively low rate of their evolution

Hantaviruses in Insectivore Populations in Siberia

Objective of the study was investigation of hantaviruses in a new natural reservoir - insectivores, their diversity and geographic distribution in the Western and Eastern Siberia. Materials and methods. Sorex shrews (71 specimens) were captured in Altai Republic, Altai, and Krasnoyarsk Territories, and Omsk Region. All samples were analyzed for hantavirus RNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with subsequent sequencing. Results and conclusions. A total of 12 viral RNA isolates from two Sorex species (S. araneus and S. roboratus) were genetically typed. Sequence analysis of the partial L and S segments identified two distinct hantaviruses. Kenkeme (KKMV) virus was detected in a flat-skulled shrew (S. roboratus) in Altai Territory. This virus was previously found in geographically remote sites in the Sakha Republic and China. New foci of Seewis virus circulation among common shrews (S. araneus), were found in the Omsk Region, Altai and Krasnoyarsk Territories. Previously published and new findings suggest that hantaviruses among shrews are widely distributed over the Russian Federation territory. The widespread circulation of SWSV and KKMV throughout Siberia is an important argument for investigation of their role in human infections

Use of AFLP and RAPD molecular genetic markers and cytogenetic analysis to explore relationships among taxa of the Patagonian Bromus setifolius complex

Bromus setifolius var. pictus (Hook) Skottsb., B. setifolius var. setifolius Presl. and B.setifolius var. brevifolius Ness are three native Patagonian taxa in the section Pnigma Dumort of the genus Bromus L. AFLP and RAPD analysis, in conjunction with genetic distance measurements and statistical techniques, revealed variation within this group and indicated that B. setifolius var. brevifolius was closely related to B. setifolius var. pictus, with both taxa being more distantly related to B. setifolius var. setifolius. Cytogenetic analysis confirmed the chromosomal number of B. setifolius var. pictus (2n = 70) and B. setifolius var. setifolius (2n = 28) and showed for the first time that B. setifolius var. brevifolius had 2n = 70. The combination of molecular genetic and cytogenetic evidence supported a species status for two of the three taxa and suggested hypotheses for the evolutionary origin of these complex taxa. Species status was also indicated for B. setifolius var. setifolius. Based on these findings, we suggest that B. setifolius var. pictus be referred to as B. pictus Hook var. pictus, and B. setifolius var brevifolius as B. pictus Hook var brevifolius. The correlation between AFLP diversity and variation in ecological parameters suggested that this marker system could be used to assess breeding progress and to monitor the domestication of Patagonian Bromus species for agronomic use