Identification of the First Human Gyrovirus, a Virus Related to Chicken Anemia Virus

Identification of the First Human Gyrovirus , a Virus Related to Chicken Anemia Virus ▿ † Virginie Sauvage 1 , Justine Cheval 2 , Vincent Foulongne 3 , Meriadeg Ar Gouilh 1 , Kevin Pariente 1 , Jean Claude Manuguerra 1 , Jennifer Richardson 4 , Olivier Dereure 5 , Marc Lecuit 6 , Ana Burguiere 1 , Valérie Caro 7 and Marc Eloit 2 , 4 , 8 , * 1 Institut Pasteur, Laboratory for Urgent Responses to Biological Threats, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75015 Paris, France 2 Pathoquest, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75015 Paris, France 3 Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU de Montpellier, St. Eloi, 80 Avenue A. Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France 4 Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR 1161 Virologie ENVA, INRA, ANSES, 7 avenue Général de Gaulle, F-94704 Maisons Alfort, France 5 Service de Dermatologie, CHU de Montpellier, St. Eloi, 80 Avenue A. Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France 6 Institut Pasteur, Inserm, Microbes and host barriers Group, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75015 Paris, France 7 Institut Pasteur, Genotyping of Pathogens and Public Health Platform, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75015 Paris, France 8 Institut Pasteur, Department of Virology, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75015 Paris, France ABSTRACT We have identified in a skin swab sample from a healthy donor a new virus that we have named human gyrovirus (HGyV) because of its similarity to the chicken anemia virus (CAV), the only previously known member of the Gyrovirus genus. In particular, this virus encodes a homolog of the CAV apoptin, a protein that selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells. By PCR screening, HGyV was found in 5 of 115 other nonlesional skin specimens but in 0 of 92 bronchoalveolar lavages or nasopharyngeal aspirates and in 0 of 92 fecal samples.