ARS | Publication request: The diversity of the orthoreoviruses: molecular taxonomy and phylogentic divides.

Submitted to: Infection, Genetics and Evolution
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: January 27, 2009
Publication Date: July 1, 2009
Citation: Day, J.M. 2009. The diversity of the orthoreoviruses: molecular taxonomy and phylogentic divides. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 9:390-400.

Interpretive Summary: The reoviruses are a diverse group of viruses that infect fungi, plants, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals (including humans). They are important agricultural pathogens due to their association with intestinal and other diseases, particularly in poultry. Recent nucleic acid sequencing efforts have produced a great deal of new molecular data for the reoviruses, particularly the group that infects birds, reptiles and some mammals. This new data has allowed a fresh look at the relationships among the reoviruses, and has provided insight into the evolution of specific reovirus species and species groups. This review aims to summarize the recent data, and to provide insight into the relationships among the diverse members of the reovirus group.

Technical Abstract: The family Reoviridae is a diverse group of viruses with double-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) genomes contained within icosahedral, layered protein capsids. Within the Reoviridae, the Orthoreovirus genus includes viruses that infect reptiles, birds and mammals (including humans). Recent sequencing efforts have produced a great deal of new molecular data for the fusogenic orthoreoviruses, a group of reoviruses that induce cell-cell fusion during an infection. This new data has allowed a fresh look at the phylogenetic relationships among the members of the Orthoreovirus genus, and has provided insight into the evolution of orthoreovirus species and species groups. This review mainly focuses on the molecular taxonomy of the fusogenic orthoreoviruses, and aims to provide insight into their relationships with the nonfusogenic orthoreoviruses and selected Reoviridae genera.