Accepted_test

Functional annotation of the novel Haseki tick virus genome

by Osinkina Irina | Radchenko Nikita | Gladysheva Anastasia | State research center of virology and biotechnology “Vector” Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Russia | State research center of virology and biotechnology “Vector” Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Russia | State research center of virology and biotechnology “Vector” Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Russia

Abstract ID: 391

Event: BGRS-abstracts

Sections: [Sym 3] Section “Structural biology of proteins nucleic acids and membranes”

The study of new viruses is one of the most important tasks in countering viral threats and ensuring national biological safety. Haseki tick virus (HSTV) is a new virus, first identified by NGS in human blood sera after a tick bite in 2020 in the Russian Federation. HSTV infection in humans is characterized by 3-5 days of fever, difficulty breathing and sore throat. The HSTV genome is represented by ssRNA(+) with a length of ~16 kilobase and contains one open reading frame flanked by untranslated regions. Viral proteins are synthesized as a polyprotein that is post-translationally cleaved by proteases. However, information about which viral proteins the HSTV genome encodes and what their spatial stricture organization is completely missing. It is making further prediction and study of the HSTV biological properties is impossible. In this work, we described for the first time the HSTV genome structure. This result indicates the evolutionary similarity of the HSTV with viruses of the Pestivirus genus. Next, crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis of the de novo assembled recombinant Npro, SP2, and RdRp HSTV proteins are planned. This will allow us to experimentally confirm the structure of the proteins and establish their role in the implementation of HSTV genetic information and help to develop specific tests for the detection, prevention and control of putative HSTV infections in ticks and humans.