A novel fungal negative-stranded RNA virus related to mymonaviruses in Auricularia heimuer

Here, we report the characterization of a novel (−)ssRNA mycovirus isolated from Auricularia heimuer CCMJ1222, using a combination of RNA-seq, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, 5′ and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and Sanger sequencing. Based on database searches, sequence alignment, and phylogenetic analysis, we designated the virus as “Auricularia heimuer negative-stranded RNA virus 1” (AhNsRV1). This virus has a monopartite RNA genome related to mymonaviruses (order Mononegavirales). The AhNsRV1 genome consists of 11,441 nucleotides and contains six open reading frames (ORFs). The largest ORF encodes a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase; the other ORFs encode hypothetical proteins with no conserved domains or known function. AhNsRV1 is the first (−)ssRNA virus and the third virus known to infect A. heimuer.