1887

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Volume 101, Issue 10

Multiple novel non-canonically transcribed sub-genomic mRNAs produced by avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus Open Access

Abstract

Coronavirus sub-genomic mRNA (sgmRNA) synthesis occurs via a process of discontinuous transcription involving complementary transcription regulatory sequences (TRSs), one (TRS-L) encompassing the leader sequence of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR), and the other upstream of each structural and accessory gene (TRS-B). Several coronaviruses have an ORF located between the N gene and the 3′-UTR, an area previously thought to be non-coding in the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) due to a lack of a canonical TRS-B. Here, we identify a non-canonical TRS-B allowing for a novel sgmRNA relating to this ORF to be produced in several strains of IBV: Beaudette, CR88, H120, D1466, Italy-02 and QX. Interestingly, the potential protein produced by this ORF is prematurely truncated in the Beaudette strain. A single nucleotide deletion was made in the Beaudette strain allowing for the generation of a recombinant IBV (rIBV) that had the potential to express a full-length protein. Assessment of this rIBV demonstrated that restoration of the full-length potential protein had no effect on viral replication. Further assessment of the Beaudette-derived RNA identified a second non-canonically transcribed sgmRNA located within gene 2. Deep sequencing analysis of allantoic fluid from Beaudette-infected embryonated eggs confirmed the presence of both the newly identified non-canonically transcribed sgmRNAs and highlighted the potential for further yet unidentified sgmRNAs. This HiSeq data, alongside the confirmation of non-canonically transcribed sgmRNAs, indicates the potential of the coronavirus genome to encode a larger repertoire of genes than has currently been identified.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): coronavirus , IBV , RNA synthesis , sub-genomic mRNA and transcription
Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Award 1645891)
    • Principle Award Recipient: Michael Steven Oade
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Award BBS/E/I/00007039)
    • Principle Award Recipient: Erica Bickerton
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Award BBS/E/I/00007037)
    • Principle Award Recipient: Erica Bickerton
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Award BBS/E/I/00007034)
    • Principle Award Recipient: Erica Bickerton
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Award BBS/E/I/00007035)
    • Principle Award Recipient: Erica Bickerton
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Award BB/L003988/1)
    • Principle Award Recipient: Erica Bickerton
© 2020 The Authors
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The Microbiology Society waived the open access fees for this article.
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2020-07-28
2024-04-19
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Multiple novel non-canonically transcribed sub-genomic mRNAs produced by avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus
J. Gen. Virol. 101, 1103 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001474
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