Studies on the interactions between viral RNA segments that are crucial for betanodavirus multiplication.

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K14973
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic bioproduction science
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Okinaka Yasushi 広島大学, 統合生命科学研究科, 准教授 (80363034)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: ベータノダウイルス / 分節ゲノム間相互作用 / 至適増殖温度 / キメラウイルス / 塩基置換ウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although interactions between viral genomic segments are well studied in plant and animal viruses, little is known about those of fish viruses. In this study, to know a role of viral segment interactions as well as the nucleotides involved in segment interactions in fish virus, we constructed many mutated fish nodaviruses, the RNA segments of which were replaced in part between genetically close RGNNV isolates with different temperature sensitivities. The levels of viral growth of these mutants at different temperatures revealed that the 125 th and 160 th nucleotides of RNA1 are involved in viral segment interactions. Furthermore, inhibition of viral segment interactions reduced the levels of viral RNA replication.

Free Research Field

魚病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

分節ゲノムをもつウイルスは、その増殖過程で各分節ゲノムをほぼ等モル比で無駄なく合成することからも、分節ゲノム間のコミュニケーション（相互作用）が増殖に重要であることが示唆される。分節ゲノム間相互作用は植物やほ乳類のウイルスでは徐々に解明されつつあるが、魚類ウイルスでは全く知見が無い。そこで、本研究では魚類ウイルスのモデルである魚類ノダウイルスを用いて、分節ゲノム間相互作用の詳細な役割とそれに関わるゲノム領域を解明し、さらに分節ゲノム間相互作用を阻害する低分子オリゴ核酸（抗ウイルス剤）の開発へ向けた情報提供を行った。