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

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 .