Análise comparativa dos padrões de recombinação de isolados de cinco espécies do gênero Potyvirus

Abstract

Potyviruses (genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) possess a genome composed of single stranded RNA molecule, positive sense, and infect a wide range of cultivated plant species causing serious losses to agriculture. Populations of RNA viruses show a high degree of genetic variability and the main evolutionary mechanisms acting on their evolution are mutation and recombination. The occurrence of recombination provides the emergence of novel biological properties, such as the ability to infect new hosts and overcome the genetic resistance of plants. Recombination events can be detected using specialized bioinformatics tools. In this context, this study aimed to compare the recombination patterns in isolates of five potyvirus species (Bean yellow mosaic virus, Turnip mosaic virus, Papaya ringspot virus, Potato virus Y and Soybean mosaic virus). Sequences comprising the complete viral genomes were obtained from GenBank by using the Taxonomy browser and further analysed into two programs (MEGA, Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis and RDP, Recombination Detection Program). The results were interpreted from breakpoint distribution plots and indicated that despite the genetic similarities among the potyvirus species analysed in this study, the recombination patterns were significantly different.