Cloning and sequence analysis of Arma chinensis virus-1 genome

In order to clarify the genome structure of pathogen for natural enemy insect Arma chinensis, a novel single-stranded RNA virus was detected in Arma chinensis through high-throughput sequencing and was named as Arma chinensis virus-1 (AcV-1). The genome sequence of AcV-1 with two complete open reading frames (ORFs) amplified by PCR and RACE was 9 192 nt in length excluding the poly(A) tail. The predicted ORF1 was 5 316 nt in length, encoded a non-structural protein consisting of 1 771 amino acids and contained 3 conserved domains including RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, peptidase and RNA helicase. The predicted ORF2 was 2 529 nt in length and encoded structural proteins consisting of 842 amino acids. The similarity of genome sequence between AcV-1 and Cricket paralysis virus (GenBank: KP974707.1) was the highest (89.40%). Sequence homology, genome structure and phylogenetic analysis indicated that AcV-1 was a novel member of genus Cripavirus. The infection rate of AcV-1 in tested samples of Arma chinensis was 37.67%.