THE COMPLETE SEQUENCE OF A HUMAN ASTROVIRUS

We have determined the complete genomic sequence of human astrovirus s erotype 1 isolated in Newcastle upon Tyne. The genome is 6813 nucleoti des long and contains three sequential open reading frames (ORFs). two closest to the 5' end are linked by a ribosomal frameshifting motif a nd contain sequence motifs indicative of non-structural virus proteins : serine protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. A nuclear addressi ng sequence is also located here. The 3' ORF encodes the virion struct ural polypeptides as a polyprotein precursor. This genomic organizatio n resembles that of the plant virus family Luteoviridae.