Phylogenetic analysis of six transcription-associated proteins from the Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus

The Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus (DlEPV) is unique among the Poxviridae in that it replicates in insects from two different orders. The virus is produced in the poison gland accessory filaments of D. longicaudata (Hymenoptera) females and is injected by these females into their Dipteran hosts as oviposition. Given the unorthodox life cycle of this virus and limited  sequence data, DlEPV remains unclassified within the Entomopoxvirinae. Here we analyzed six putative transcription-associated protein sequences (RNA polymerase large subunit, Poly(A)polymerase catalytic subunit, mRNA capping enzyme, RNA polymerase associated protein, mRNA decapping enzyme, and RNA helicase) from the Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus.  We utilize alignments, 3D modeling, and phylogenetic methods to further our understanding of DlEPV transcription and phylogenetic classification. The best match for each of the six proteins was a poxvirus homolog. The Phyre2 3D model for each protein supported the protein function indicated by the genbank homologs. While the DlEPV transcription-associated proteins are homologous to poxvirus transcription proteiins, DlEPV is quite different from other entomopoxviruses at the sequence level. The phylogenetic analysis of the six proteins did not yield consensus. We suggest that DlEPV should be classified as the type species of a new genus whithin the entomopoxvirinae.