Sea star-associated densovirus explained

Sea star-associated densovirus (SSaDV) belongs to the Parvoviridae family. Like the other members of its family, it is a single-stranded DNA virus. SSaDV has been suggested to be an etiological agent of sea star wasting disease, but conclusive evidence has not yet been obtained. Further work in 2018 and 2020 re-examined the association between SSaDV and sea star wasting and found no evidence in both the original work and subsequent surveys of sea stars.^{[1] [2]} More recently, densoviruses associated with echinoderms were recognized as forming persistent infections in their hosts ^[3] and become endogenized within sea star genomic DNA.^[2] Densoviruses including SSaDV become more pronounced during sea star wasting progression, but no single strain is associated with sea star wasting disease.^[4]

Epidemiology

SSaDV occurs in sea stars from southern Alaska to Baja California. It tends to occur during large outbreaks of starfish-afflicting diseases with high mortality rates, as it has in 1972, 1978, 2013, and 2014. See Sea star wasting disease. The virus was observed in wasting Pycnopodia helianthoides, and detected in small quantities in healthy sea stars and aquarium sediments.^[5] The highest viral load was found in the body wall of the central disk.^[5] A similar virus infecting sea stars on the Atlantic Coast of North America is found in only healthy specimens.^[3] As of 2021, SSaDV is no longer believed to be associated with sea star wasting disease but may rather be one of many viruses that replicate as a consequence of disease process.^[6]

Structure

The genomic characteristics of SSaDV are similar to the other members of the genus Ambidensovirus.^[5] It is predicted to be a non-enveloped icosahedral particle at ~25 nm, although the virus has never been imaged.^[5]

See also

• Sea star wasting disease

Further reading

• Web site: Kate . Gazzo . Loss of Sea Stars Could Collapse Marine Communities . 22 November 2014 . Blog . Great Ecology .
• Grenet AS, Salasc F, Francois S, Mutuel D, Dupressoir T, Multeau C, Perrin A, Ogliastro M . Les densovirus: une "massive attaque" chez les arthropodes . Virologie . 19 . 1 . 19–31 . January 2015 . 10.1684/vir.2015.0589 . 31 January 2024 . 33065897 .

External links

• ViralZone: Densovirus
• Sea Star Wasting Syndrome Updates

Notes and References

1. Hewson. Ian. Bistolas. Kalia S. I.. Quijano Cardé. Eva M.. Button. Jason B.. Foster. Parker J.. Flanzenbaum. Jacob M.. Kocian. Jan. Lewis. Chaunte K.. 2018. Investigating the Complex Association Between Viral Ecology, Environment, and Northeast Pacific Sea Star Wasting. Frontiers in Marine Science. English. 5. 10.3389/fmars.2018.00077. 3729059. 2296-7745. free.
2. Jackson. Elliot W.. Wilhelm. Roland C.. Johnson. Mitchell R.. Lutz. Holly L.. Danforth. Isabelle. Gaydos. Joseph K.. Hart. Michael W.. Hewson. Ian. 2020-09-23. Pfeiffer. Julie K.. Diversity of Sea Star-Associated Densoviruses and Transcribed Endogenous Viral Elements of Densovirus Origin. Journal of Virology. en. 95. 1. e01594–20, /jvi/95/1/JVI.01594–20.atom. 10.1128/JVI.01594-20. 0022-538X. 7737747. 32967964.
3. Jackson. Elliot W.. Pepe-Ranney. Charles. Johnson. Mitchell R.. Distel. Daniel L.. Hewson. Ian. 2020-01-10. Alexandre. Gladys. A Highly Prevalent and Pervasive Densovirus Discovered among Sea Stars from the North American Atlantic Coast. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. en. 86. 6. e02723–19, /aem/86/6/AEM.02723–19.atom. 10.1128/AEM.02723-19. 0099-2240. 7054102. 31924612.
4. Hewson. Ian. Aquino. Citlalli A.. DeRito. Christopher M.. November 2020. Virome Variation during Sea Star Wasting Disease Progression in Pisaster ochraceus (Asteroidea, Echinodermata). Viruses. en. 12. 11. 1332. 10.3390/v12111332. 7699681. 33233680. free.
5. Hewson. Ian. Button. Jason B.. Gudenkauf. Brent M.. Miner. Benjamin. Newton. Alisa L.. Gaydos. Joseph K.. Wynne. Janna. Groves. Cathy L.. Hendler. Gordon. December 2014. Densovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. . 111. 48. 17278–83. 10.1073/pnas.1416625111. 4260605. 25404293. 2014PNAS..11117278H. free.
6. Hewson. Ian. Aquino. Citlalli A.. DeRito. Christopher M.. November 2020. Virome Variation during Sea Star Wasting Disease Progression in Pisaster ochraceus (Asteroidea, Echinodermata). Viruses. en. 12. 11. 1332. 10.3390/v12111332. 33233680. 7699681. free.