The complete genome sequence of Shope (rabbit) fibroma virus

We have determined the complete DNA sequence of the Leporipoxvirus Shope fi broma virus (SFV). The SFV genome spans 159.8 kb and encodes 165 putative g enes of which 13 are duplicated in the 12.4-kb terminal inverted repeats. A lthough most SFV genes have homologs encoded by other Chordopoxvirinae, the SFV genome lacks a key gene required for the production of extracellular e nveloped virus. SFV also encodes only the smaller ribonucleotide reductase subunit and has a limited nucleotide biosynthetic capacity. SFV preserves t he Chordopoxvirinae gene order from S012L near the left end of the chromoso me through to S142R (homologs of vaccinia F2L and B1R, respectively). The u nique right end of SFV appears to be genetically unstable because when the sequence is compared with that of myxoma virus, five myxoma homologs have b een deleted (C. Cameron, S. Hota-Mitchell, L. Chen, J. Barrett, J.-X. Cao, C. Macaulay, D. Willer, D. Evans, and G. McFadden, 1999, Virology 264, 298- 318). Most other differences between these two Leporipoxviruses are located in the telomeres. Leporipoxviruses encode several genes not found in other poxviruses including four small hydrophobic proteins of unknown function ( S023R, S119L, S125R, and S132L), an alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase (S143R), a protein belonging to the Ig-like protein superfamily (S141R), and a protein resembling the DNA-binding domain of proteins belonging to the HIN-200 pro tein family S013L). SFV also encodes a type II DNA photolyase (S127L). Mela noplus sanguinipes entomopoxvirus encodes a similar protein, but SN is the first mammalian virus potentially capable of photoreactivating ultraviolet DNA damage. (C) 1999 Academic Press.