Identification of the first human gyrovirus, a virus related to chicken anemia virus

Abstract

We have identified in a skin swab sample from a healthy donor a new virus that we have named human gyrovirus (HGyV) because of its similarity to the chicken anemia virus (CAV), the only previously known member of the Gyrovirus genus. In particular, this virus encodes a homolog of the CAV apoptin, a protein that selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells. By PCR screening, HGyV was found in 5 of 115 other nonlesional skin specimens but in 0 of 92 bronchoalveolar lavages or nasopharyngeal aspirates and in 0 of 92 fecal samples.

Fig. 1.

Map of HGyV (accession number FR823283) and principal features. Principal features are designated by homology with cognate features in the annotated sequence of CAV (accession number M55918).

Fig. 2.

Nucleotide sequence of the promoter region of HGyV and principal features (see text). Direct repeats (DRa to DRe) of 22 nt are shown with putative estrogen-responsive elements (ACGTCA; underlined). The palindromic CAAT CAGA ATTG putative estrogen-responsive element and the TATA box are depicted.

Fig. 3.

Comparison of the primary structures of CAV and HGyV apoptin. HGyV apoptin (H-apoptin) was aligned with its CAV homolog (A-apoptin) (accession number P54094) by the use of the CLC Genomics Workbench program. Principal domains of the CAV apoptin protein are shown (LRS, leucine-rich domain; NLS1 and NLS2, nuclear localization signals; NES, putative nuclear exportation signal). The amino acid Thr in position 108 of CAV apoptin is depicted by an arrow. The phosphorylation site at amino acid Thr-111 of HGyV apoptin predicted by the Netphos program (www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/NetPhos/) is also shown.