H. Attoui et al., Complete sequence characterization of the genome of the St Croix River virus, a new orbivirus isolated from cells of Ixodes scapularis, J GEN VIROL, 82, 2001, pp. 795-804
An orbivirus identified as St Croix River virus (SCRV) was isolated from ce
lls of Ixodes scapularis ticks, Electron microscopy showed particles with t
ypical orbivirus morphology, The SCRV genome was sequenced completely and c
ompared to previously characterized orbivirus genomes, Significant identity
scores (21-38%) were detected between proteins encoded by segments S1, S2,
S4, S5, S6, S8, S9 and S10 of SCRV and those encoded by segments S1, S3, S
4, S5, S6, B7, S9 and S10, respectively, of Bluetongue virus (BTV), the pro
totype orbivirus species, The protein encoded by SCRV genome segment 3 (VP3
) is thought to be the equivalent of VP2 of BTV, Segment 7 encodes a protei
n homologous to non-structural protein NS2(ViP) of BTV, Analysis of VP 1(Po
l) (segment 1) shows that SCRV is an orbivirus, distantly related to the ot
her sequenced species, Blot hybridizations and sequence comparisons of the
conserved protein encoded by genome segment 2 (the T2 subcore shell protein
) with previously identified orbiviruses confirm that SCRV is a distinct or
bivirus species, unrelated to another tick-borne species, Great Island viru
s, The presence of SCRV in cells prepared from tick eggs suggests that tran
sovarial transmission of SCRV may occur in ticks.