Deletion of the s2m RNA Structure in the Avian Coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus and Human Astrovirus Results in Sequence Insertions
Sarah Keep, Giulia Dowgier, Valeria Lulla, Paul Britton, Michael S. Oade, Graham Freimanis, Chandana Tennakoon, Christine Monceyron Jonassen, Torstein Tengs, Erica Bickerton
Abstract
infectious bronchitis virus, an economically important viral pathogen of poultry. Using reverse genetics to generate recombinant IBVs with either a disrupted or deleted s2m, we showed that the s2m is not required for viral replication in cell culture; however, replication is decreased in tracheal tissue, suggesting a role for the s2m in the natural host. Passaging of these viruses as well as human astrovirus lacking the s2m sequence demonstrated a preference for nucleotide occupation, independent of the s2m sequence. RNA modeling suggested deletion of the s2m may negatively impact other essential RNA structures.