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Identification and molecular characterization of a novel alphanucleorhabdovirus associated with cacti in Mexico

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: High-throughput sequencing revealed a putative novel alphanucleorhabdovirus associated with Opuntia pilifera , O. depressa , and Cephalocereus tetetzo collected in Mexico. Three viral genomes (12,946–13,122 nt) exhibited the typical nucleorhabdovirus gene organization (N–P–P3–M–G–L) and shared 86–92% nucleotide sequence identity. Phylogenetic analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase placed the isolates in a distinct clade closely related to Agave tequilana virus 1 . Viral RNA was detected by RT-PCR in field-collected cacti, and rhabdovirus-like particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. These findings support the identification of a putative novel alphanucleorhabdovirus, tentatively named Opuntia nucleorhabdovirus A .

Source: Research Square

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-11485730/v1

Authors: Héctor Salgado-Ortiz, Rodolfo La Torre-Almaraz, Jorge Eduardo Campos-Contreras, María de Lourdes Rojas-Morales

Institutions: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional

Language: English

Topic: Plant Virus Research Studies

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7225777056

Cites: 6

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