New insights into the evolution of Entomopoxvirinae from the complete genome sequences of four entomopoxviruses infecting Adoxophyes honmai, Choristoneura biennis, Choristoneura rosaceana and Mythi…

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Poxviruses are nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses encompassing two subfamilies, the Chordopoxvirinae and the Entomopoxvirinae, infecting vertebrates and insects, respectively. While chordopoxvirus genomics have been widely studied, only two entomopoxvirus (EPV) genomes have been entirely sequenced. We report the genome sequences of four EPVs of the Betaentomopoxvirus genus infecting the Lepidoptera: Adoxophyes honmai (AHEV), Choristoneura biennis (CBEV), Choristoneura rosaceana (CREV) and Mythimna separata (MySEV). The genomes are 80% AT-rich, are 228-307kbp in length and contain 247-334 ORFs. Most genes are homologous to those of Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus and encode several protein families repeated in tandem in terminal regions. Some genomes also encode proteins of unknown functions with similarity to other insect viruses. Comparative genomic analyses highlight a high colinearity among the lepidopteran EPV genomes and little gene order conservation with other poxvirus genomes.

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