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Novel circular DNA viruses in stool samples of wild-living chimpanzees

¹ Blood Systems Research Institute;
² University of Alabama;
³ Washington University;
⁴ University of Kisangani;
⁵ University of Montpellier;
⁶ Lincoln Park Zoo;
⁷ University of Minnesota

⁸ E-mail: delwarte{at}medicine.ucsf.edu

Viral particles in stool from wild-living chimpanzees were analyzed using random PCR amplification and sequencing. Sequences encoding proteins distantly related to the replicase protein of single stranded circular DNA viruses were identified. Inverse PCR was used to amplify and sequence multiple small circular DNA viral genomes from the stool of 7 chimpanzees. The novel viral genomes were related in size and genome organization to vertebrate circoviruses and plant geminiviruses but with a different location for the stem loop structure involved in rolling circle DNA replication. The full replicase genes of these viruses were most closely related to those of the much smaller (~1kb) plant nanoviruses circular DNA chromosomes. Because the novel viruses have characteristics of both animal and plant viruses, we named them Chimpanzee Stool Associated Circular Viruses (ChiSCV). Further viral metagenomics of animal samples will greatly increase our knowledge of viral diversity and evolution.

Received 29 July 2009; accepted 14 September 2009.