Geographic Distribution and Phylogeny of Soricine Shrew-Borne Seewis Virus and Altai Virus in Russia

The discovery of genetically distinct hantaviruses (family Hantaviridae) in multiple species of shrews, moles and bats has revealed a complex evolutionary history involving cross-species transmission. Seewis virus (SWSV) is widely distributed throughout the geographic ranges of its soricid hosts, including the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus), tundra shrew (Sorex tundrensis) and Siberian large-toothed shrew (Sorex daphaenodon), suggesting host sharing. In addition, genetic variants of SWSV, previously named Artybash virus (ARTV) and Amga virus, have been detected in the Laxmann’s shrew (Sorex caecutiens). Here, we describe the geographic distribution and phylogeny of SWSV and Altai virus (ALTV) in Asian Russia. The complete genomic sequence analysis showed that ALTV, also harbored by the Eurasian common shrew, is a new hantavirus species, distantly related to SWSV. Moreover, Lena River virus (LENV) appears to be a distinct hantavirus species, harbored by Laxmann’s shrews and flat-skulled shrews (Sorex roboratus) in Eastern Siberia and far-eastern Russia. Another ALTV-related virus, which is more closely related to Camp Ripley virus from the United States, has been identified in the Eurasian least shrew (Sorex minutissimus) from far-eastern Russia. Two highly divergent viruses, ALTV and SWSV co-circulate among common shrews in Western Siberia, while LENV and the ARTV variant of SWSV co-circulate among Laxmann’s shrews in Eastern Siberia and far-eastern Russia. ALTV and ALTV-related viruses appear to belong to the Mobatvirus genus, while SWSV is a member of the Orthohantavirus genus. These findings suggest that ALTV and ALTV-related hantaviruses might have emerged from ancient cross-species transmission with subsequent diversification within Sorex shrews in Eurasia.

With the discovery of highly divergent hantaviruses in shrews, moles and bats [4,5], long-held conjectures of the co-evolution of rodent-borne hantaviruses and their hosts have given way to concepts of a far more complex evolutionary history, punctuated by cross-species transmission and host switching [6][7][8][9][10][11] and reassortment events [12][13][14][15][16][17]. Furthermore, apart from examples of a single hantavirus species being harbored by multiple reservoir host species, certain host species are known to serve as reservoirs of more than one hantavirus species [9,16,18]. Two highly distinct hantaviruses, Bruges (BRGV) and Nova (NVAV), were found co-circulating among European moles (Talpa europaea) [16]. Phylogenetic placement of one of these viruses (BRGV) corresponded to the co-evolution hypothesis, while the position of the second hantavirus (NVAV) suggested cross-species transmission and an ancient reassortment event [16].
The first shrew-borne orthohantavirus, Seewis virus (SWSV), originally detected in the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) in Switzerland [19], and subsequently in archival tissues from common shrews captured in Hungary and Finland [20], has now been found across the vast distribution of its host, spanning across Europe and to the Baikal Lake region in Asian Russia [8,21,22]. SWSV has also been detected in other Sorex species, including the tundra shrew (Sorex tundrensis) [22], Siberian large-toothed shrews (Sorex daphaenodon) [22] and Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) [23]. In addition to SWSV, we previously identified a novel highly divergent virus, designated Altai virus (ALTV), in a common shrew captured in August 2007 near Teletskoye Lake, Altai Republic, in Russia [22]. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial L-segment sequence of ALTV (GenBank EU424341) indicated that it was more closely related to mobatviruses, associated mainly with bats, and also suggested ancient host-switching events [9]. Closely related virus sequences were detected from Sorex araneus in Hungary and Finland [8,9]. At the same time and in the same location, we found ALTV and SWSV within populations of Eurasian common shrews and Artybash virus (ARTV) among Laxmann's shrews (Sorex caecutiens) [9,24]. Currently, ARTV is reclassified as a genetic variant of SWSV [3].
Co-circulation of two highly distinctive hantaviruses, Lena River (LENV) and ARTV, was found within populations of S. caecutiens in Khabarovsk Krai and Sakha Republic, Russia [9,25]. It was shown that LENV was most closely related to ALTV and considered as a highly divergent genetic variant of ALTV. Findings also suggested species-shift events during evolution of shrew-borne hantaviruses. Here, we report the co-circulation of SWSV and ALTV in the Tomsk region of Western Siberia and demonstrate that ALTV and LENV likely represent new species of the genus Mobatvirus in the family Hantaviridae.

Trapping and Sample Collection
During 2018-2019, Sorex shrews were captured in Western Siberia. Field procedures and protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals and the University of New Mexico, following guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists [26,27]

RNA Extraction and RT-PCR Analysis
Total RNA was extracted from lung tissues, using the RNeasy MiniKit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) or PureLink Micro-to-Midi total RNA purification kit (Invitrogen, San Diego, CA, USA), then reverse transcribed, using the SuperScript III First-Strand Synthesis System (Invitrogen, San Diego, CA, USA) or Expand reverse transcriptase (Roche, Basel, Switzerland) with random hexamers and universal oligonucleotide primer (OSM55, 5 -TAGTAGTAGACTCC-3 ), designed from the conserved 3 end of the S, M and L segments of hantaviruses. For initial screening by nested RT-PCR, previously described genusspecific oligonucleotide primers targeting the partial L-segment sequence were used [9,29]. Oligonucleotide primers (Supplementary Table S1) were designed from consensus regions of other available hantaviruses and combined with the primers that were described previously [20,22,24]. For the amplification of hantavirus genes, a two-step PCR was performed in 20-µL reaction mixtures, containing 250 µM dNTP, 2 mM MgCl 2 , 1 U of HotStart Ampli-Taq polymerase (Roche, Basel, Switzerland) or HotStart Taq polymerase (SibEnzyme Ltd, Academtown, Russia) and 0.25 µM of each oligonucleotide primer. Initial denaturation at 94 • C for 5 min was followed by two cycles each of denaturation at 94 • C for 40 s, two-degree step-down annealing from 48 to 38 • C for 40 s, and elongation at 72 • C for 1 min, then 32 cycles of denaturation at 94 • C for 40 s, annealing at 42 • C for 40 s, and elongation at 72 • C for 1 min, in a GeneAmp PCR 9700 thermal cycler (Perkin-Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA). Amplicons were separated by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gels and purified using the QIAQuick Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). DNA was sequenced directly using an ABI Prism 377XL or ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA).
Phylogenetic trees were generated using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods Mrbayes 3.1.2 [34], under the best-fit general time reversible model of nucleotide evolution with gamma-distributed rate heterogeneity and invariable sites (GTR+I+Γ) [35]. The best-fit model was selected with jModelTest version 2.1.7 [36] for phylogenetic trees. Two replicate Bayesian Metropolis-Hastings MCMC runs, each consisting of six chains

Genetic Analysis
During 2018-2019, 173 shrews were captured at two localities of Altai Republic and four localities of Tomsk Oblast, Western Siberia (Table 1 and Figure 1). All samples were analyzed for hantavirus RNA by nested RT-PCR. Hantaviral RNA were identified in 39 S. araneus and 1 S. caecutiens. The whole genome of ALTV (prototype strain ALT 302), complete S segment sequences (SWSV strain Telet-Sa300, ARTV strain ART 502, LENV strain Parnaya-Sc1217, ALTV strains Parabel-Sa44) were recovered from new and previously reported hantavirus RNA-positive samples (Supplementary Table S2).  Based on the partial L-segment sequences, two distinct Sorex-borne hantaviruses were found: strains of both SWSV and ALTV from S. araneus (38 and 1 positive/163 tested, respectively) and ARTV variant of SWSV from S. caecutiens (1/7) ( Table 1, Supplementary  Table S2). ALTV and SWSV were found in S. araneus at site Parabel in Tomsk Oblast. ARTV in S. caecutiens and SWSV in S. araneus were detected near Teletskoye Lake, the same site where three Sorex-borne hantaviruses, ALTV, SWSV and ARTV, were discovered in 2007. SWSV sequences were recovered from S. araneus in the other capture sites. Hantavirus RNA was not detected in S. isodon and S. minutus, possibly due to the low number of tested samples.
The ALTV virus-positive common shrew sample, designated ALT302, was subjected to full-genome sequencing. The 1987-nt S segment encoded a nucleocapsid (N) protein of 448 aa in length. The 3614-nt M segment contained a single ORF encoding the 1135-aa long glycoprotein precursor (GP) of the Gn and Gc glycoproteins, separated by a WAVSA pentapeptide. The same motif was found in ALTV-related virus from Laxmann's shrew (Khekhtsir-Sc67) and BRGV from European mole (BE/Vieux-Genappe/TE/2013). The 6533nt L segment encoded the 2147-aa long RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Analysis of complete S segment-coding sequences demonstrated 12% nt and 2% aa sequence Based on the partial L-segment sequences, two distinct Sorex-borne hantaviruses were found: strains of both SWSV and ALTV from S. araneus (38 and 1 positive/163 tested, respectively) and ARTV variant of SWSV from S. caecutiens (1/7) ( Table 1,  Supplementary Table S2). ALTV and SWSV were found in S. araneus at site Parabel in Tomsk Oblast. ARTV in S. caecutiens and SWSV in S. araneus were detected near Teletskoye Lake, the same site where three Sorex-borne hantaviruses, ALTV, SWSV and ARTV, were discovered in 2007. SWSV sequences were recovered from S. araneus in the other capture sites. Hantavirus RNA was not detected in S. isodon and S. minutus, possibly due to the low number of tested samples.
The new partial L-segment sequences recovered from the remaining 38 hantavirus positive S. araneus exhibited 1-12% divergence to each other and to previously published SWSV strains, found in S. araneus, S. tundrensis, S. daphaenodon in Russia, and showed a close evolutionary relationship to those of prototype SWSV mp70 (17-22% nt and 0-2% aa divergence) found in Europe. Partial L-segment sequences, recovered from S. caecutiens, captured in the same site Teletskoye in 2007 and 2019 (ART502 and Telet-Sc170) were close to each other (4% nt and 0% aa divergence) and were most closely related with other ARTV variant of SWSV strains from S. caecutiens and S. tundrensis (Sca383, Khekhtsir-Sc1126, Galkino-St2714 and Galkino-St48) found in distantly located sites in the Sakha Republic and Khabarovsk region (17-20% nt and 0-4% aa divergence).
The other highly divergent full-length and partial S-, M-and L-genomic sequences from 20 soricine shrews (four S. araneus, 12 S. caecutiens, two S. roboratus, one S. tundrensis and one S. minutus) formed two clades, ALTV and LENV, which shared a common ancestry with Camp Ripley virus (RPLV) strain MSB90845 from the northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda) in the S and L trees (  Supplementary Table S2. Similarly, in the M-segment tree, hantavirus sequences from three S. caecutiens (MSB148580, MSB148458, MSB148793) and one S. roboratus (MSB148679) clustered with LENV strain Khekhtsir-Sc67 (Figure 2), while prototype strain ALTV ALT302 formed a separate lineage. In the L-segment tree, hantavirus from one S. minutissimus (Smi458 MSB1486651), captured in Russia, segregated with RPLV (MSB90845), from the United States. The overall topology of the S-and M-segment trees were more similar and suggested that ALTV and LENV belonged to the Mobatvirus genus. Geographic-specific clustering was evident for LENV strains from S. caecutiens and S. roboratus captured along Kenkeme River and Amga River (Figure 2).
Phylogenetic trees, based on complete N, GPC and partial RdRp protein sequences also revealed similar topologies with distinct clustering of SWSV and ALTV strains (Figure 3). SWSV strains from S. araneus, S. tundrensis, S. caecutiens and S. daphaenodon were more closely related to members of the genus Orthohantavirus and were associated with other Sorex species. Phylogeographic variation of SWSV strains reflected the host association, geography and distinct evolutionary histories of SWSV and ARTV variants [22,24,25]. ALTV from S. araneus and LENV from S. caecutiens, S. roboratus, S. tundrensis and S. minutus were more closely related to members of the genus Mobatvirus, associated mainly with bats, but also with mole (NVAV) and shrew (RPLV strain MSB90845), that have reassorted M and L genome segments [17]. Phylogeographic variation of LENV strains reflected the host associations and their geographic origins. Viruses 2021, 13, x 9 of 12

Discussion
Our data and previously published data demonstrate widespread circulation of SWSV throughout the geographic range of S. araneus, spanning across Central and Northern Europe to Eastern Siberia. SWSV was found in all new capture sites located in Western Siberia (Altai Republic and Tomsk Oblast). Moreover, in Russia and Mongolia, SWSV was also detected in other closely related Sorex species, such as the tundra shrew and Siberian large-toothed shrew [22]. The two distinct genetic variants of SWSV, previously named ARTV, were detected in S. caecutiens and S. tundrensis. ARTV in S. caecutiens was found across its geographic range in Asian Russia (Altai Republic, Sakha Republic, Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk Krai) and Japan, while ARTV in S. tundrensis was detected in far-eastern Russia (Khabarovsk Krai) [25].
In addition to SWSV, highly divergent hantaviruses, designated ALTV and LENV, were detected in S. araneus and S. caecutiens, S. tundrensis, and S. roboratus, respectively. Here, we report the genomic characterization of ALTV, a new hantavirus in S. araneus, previously recognized as the principal reservoir of SWSV. Our data demonstrate co-circulation of two divergent hantaviruses in the same host species and locations in Western Siberia. Finding of ALTV in S. araneus in two Siberian sites, as well as in Finland and Hungary [8,9] may indicate that S. araneus is the reservoir host of ALTV. However, the possibility that S. araneus may be a spillover host of ALTV cannot be completely rejected. This

Discussion
Our data and previously published data demonstrate widespread circulation of SWSV throughout the geographic range of S. araneus, spanning across Central and Northern Europe to Eastern Siberia. SWSV was found in all new capture sites located in Western Siberia (Altai Republic and Tomsk Oblast). Moreover, in Russia and Mongolia, SWSV was also detected in other closely related Sorex species, such as the tundra shrew and Siberian large-toothed shrew [22]. The two distinct genetic variants of SWSV, previously named ARTV, were detected in S. caecutiens and S. tundrensis. ARTV in S. caecutiens was found across its geographic range in Asian Russia (Altai Republic, Sakha Republic, Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk Krai) and Japan, while ARTV in S. tundrensis was detected in far-eastern Russia (Khabarovsk Krai) [25].
In addition to SWSV, highly divergent hantaviruses, designated ALTV and LENV, were detected in S. araneus and S. caecutiens, S. tundrensis, and S. roboratus, respectively. Here, we report the genomic characterization of ALTV, a new hantavirus in S. araneus, previously recognized as the principal reservoir of SWSV. Our data demonstrate co-circulation of two divergent hantaviruses in the same host species and locations in Western Siberia. Finding of ALTV in S. araneus in two Siberian sites, as well as in Finland and Hungary [8,9] may indicate that S. araneus is the reservoir host of ALTV. However, the possibility that S. araneus may be a spillover host of ALTV cannot be completely rejected. This report and our previous studies demonstrated very low level of ALTV infection rate among S. araneus [22,33]. Since 2007, ALTV was detected in two of 258 samples from S. araneus, captured in Siberia, while SWSV sequences were detected in 59 samples. Initially ALTV, SWSV, and ARTV had been found in one locality near Teletskoye Lake in the Altai Republic. During this study ALTV was found in a distant locality of Tomsk Oblast.
These data suggest two possible hypotheses. First, differential sensitivity of host (S. araneus) to ALTV and SWSV infection due to different evolution histories of these viruses. Long-term co-evolution of SWSV and its natural host provide better infection sensitivity for SWSV compared to ALTV, which suggest ancient host-switching event from another reservoir host during evolution. Second, differential interaction between host and virus for ALTV and SWSV. SWSV demonstrated persistent infection, while ALTV might have a short period of active infection and then complete elimination by the immune system of the host shrew. As a consequence, pathogenicity of ALTV for humans might be distinct compared to SWSV, which most probably is non-pathogenic for humans [37]. Both hypotheses warrant further investigation, including attempts to isolate SWSV and ALTV.
The full-length S-genomic segment of ALTV strain ALT 302 encoded an N protein of 448 aa, 12-24 aa longer than for other hantaviruses. The same length of N protein was found for LENV, supporting a common evolutionary origin. Additional aa were located at the N-terminus of the N protein. The first 110 aa showed the highest degree of diversity compared to other hantaviruses, more than 61%. As the N-terminal 107 aa contain immunodominant linear epitopes [38,39], we posit that available ELISA kits, based on the N proteins of Hantaan, Seoul and Puumala viruses, would not be able to detect ALTV or LENV infection in humans.

Conclusions
An ALTV-related hantavirus harbored by S. caecutiens, provisionally named LENV, might represent a distinct hantavirus species. LENV was detected in S. caecutiens and S. roboratus, which inhabit the same locality in Sakha Republic, as well as in S. tundrensis in Mongolia. LENV was detected throughout the eastern-most geographic range of its host, from Eastern Siberia (Krasnoyarsk Krai) up to far-eastern Russia (Sakha Republic, Khabarovsk Krai). LENV was also found in Poland, where a closely related strain was identified in S. minutus. The findings of LENV in multiple Sorex species from widely separated geographic regions indicate that several Sorex species may represent the reservoir hosts of genetic variants of LENV. Further, a highly divergent ALTV-related hantavirus from S. minutissimus, captured in Russia and phylogenetically more closely related to RPLV, found in Blarina brevicauda from the United States [17,40], probably represents a new hantavirus species.
Supplementary Materials: The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/10 .3390/v13071286/s1. Table S1: Oligonucleotide primers for amplification of the S, M and L segments of soricine shrew-borne hantaviruses, Table S2: GenBank accession numbers and host information for soricine shrew-borne hantaviruses included in genetic and phylogenetic analysis.  Institutional Review Board Statement: Field procedures and protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals (protocol 2020-02) and the University of New Mexico (protocol 06UNM026). All wildlife field operations, including the responsible treatment of animals, met the guideline requirements of the order of the High and Middle Education Ministry (no. 742 issued on November 13, 1984) and by the Federal Law of the Russian Federation (no. 498-FZ issued on December 19, 2018). The study did not involve endangered or protected species.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement:
The data about shrews and trap sites presented in this study are openly available in Arctos (http://arctos.database.museum/), an online collection management information system and provider of research-grade data. GenBank accession numbers for sequence data are available in the legend of Figure 2 and in Supplemental Table S2. Other data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding authors.