Genomic characterization of a novel human astrovirus MLB1 variant from Tanzania

Mariana J. Shayo; Davis Kuchaka; Melkiory Beti; Gerald Phares Mwing'a; Patrick Kimu; Boaz Wadugu; Masoud A. Juma; Happiness Kumburu; Ireen Kiwelu; Mohamed Ali; Paul Kazyoba; Philip L.C. Clausen; Florida Muro; Blandina T. Mmbaga; Michael Alifrangis; Frank M. Aarestrup; Tolbert Sonda

doi:10.1016/j.virol.2026.110861

Genomic characterization of a novel human astrovirus MLB1 variant from Tanzania

Mariana J. Shayo^*
, Davis Kuchaka
, Melkiory Beti
, Gerald Phares Mwing'a
, Patrick Kimu
, Boaz Wadugu
, Masoud A. Juma
, Happiness Kumburu
, Ireen Kiwelu
, Mohamed Ali
, Paul Kazyoba
, Philip L.C. Clausen
, Florida Muro
, Blandina T. Mmbaga
, Michael Alifrangis
, Frank M. Aarestrup
, Tolbert Sonda

^*Corresponding author for this work

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute
National Institute for Medical Research Tanzania
The State University of Zanzibar
Zanzibar Health Research Institute
University of Copenhagen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Human astroviruses (HAstV) are emerging viral pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis worldwide, but whole-genome data from Africa, including from Tanzania, remains scarce. A genomic analysis of stools of children with diarrhea was performed using nanopore sequencing.

We successfully assembled HAstV-MLB1 complete genomes from two different stool samples, achieving high sequence coverage of 354.75x and 769.94x, respectively. Analyses included phylogeny, synteny, comparative genomics, and structural characterization of the capsid protein. The two Tanzanian HAstV-MLB1 strains showed high genetic similarity to each other and clustered within the Melbourne-like virus (MLB1) clade and were most closely related (96% similarity) to the Australian reference strain. Both synteny and capsid structure analysis confirmed their conserved nature.

This study presents the first whole-genome data from Tanzania. Our findings align with the previously reported genetic stability of HAstV, regional variability, and potential functional variation of the capsid protein, emphasizing the need for surveillance and functional characterization.

Original language	English
Article number	110861
Journal	Virology
Volume	619
Number of pages	7
ISSN	0042-6822
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2026.110861
Publication status	Published - 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Human astrovirus MLB1
Whole-genome sequencing
Tanzania
Gastroenteritis

Access to Document

10.1016/j.virol.2026.110861

OpenUrl availability

Check availability in DTU Findit

Cite this

Shayo, M. J., Kuchaka, D., Beti, M., Mwing'a, G. P., Kimu, P., Wadugu, B., Juma, M. A., Kumburu, H., Kiwelu, I., Ali, M., Kazyoba, P., Clausen, P. L. C., Muro, F., Mmbaga, B. T., Alifrangis, M., Aarestrup, F. M., & Sonda, T. (2026). Genomic characterization of a novel human astrovirus MLB1 variant from Tanzania. Virology, 619, Article 110861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2026.110861

@article{c153773949cb4d3894b27df1a8839248,

title = "Genomic characterization of a novel human astrovirus MLB1 variant from Tanzania",

abstract = "Human astroviruses (HAstV) are emerging viral pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis worldwide, but whole-genome data from Africa, including from Tanzania, remains scarce. A genomic analysis of stools of children with diarrhea was performed using nanopore sequencing. We successfully assembled HAstV-MLB1 complete genomes from two different stool samples, achieving high sequence coverage of 354.75x and 769.94x, respectively. Analyses included phylogeny, synteny, comparative genomics, and structural characterization of the capsid protein. The two Tanzanian HAstV-MLB1 strains showed high genetic similarity to each other and clustered within the Melbourne-like virus (MLB1) clade and were most closely related (96\% similarity) to the Australian reference strain. Both synteny and capsid structure analysis confirmed their conserved nature. This study presents the first whole-genome data from Tanzania. Our findings align with the previously reported genetic stability of HAstV, regional variability, and potential functional variation of the capsid protein, emphasizing the need for surveillance and functional characterization.",

keywords = "Human astrovirus MLB1, Whole-genome sequencing, Tanzania, Gastroenteritis",

author = "Shayo, \{Mariana J.\} and Davis Kuchaka and Melkiory Beti and Mwing'a, \{Gerald Phares\} and Patrick Kimu and Boaz Wadugu and Juma, \{Masoud A.\} and Happiness Kumburu and Ireen Kiwelu and Mohamed Ali and Paul Kazyoba and Clausen, \{Philip L.C.\} and Florida Muro and Mmbaga, \{Blandina T.\} and Michael Alifrangis and Aarestrup, \{Frank M.\} and Tolbert Sonda",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/j.virol.2026.110861",

language = "English",

volume = "619",

journal = "Virology",

issn = "0042-6822",

publisher = "Academic Press",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Genomic characterization of a novel human astrovirus MLB1 variant from Tanzania

AU - Shayo, Mariana J.

AU - Kuchaka, Davis

AU - Beti, Melkiory

AU - Mwing'a, Gerald Phares

AU - Kimu, Patrick

AU - Wadugu, Boaz

AU - Juma, Masoud A.

AU - Kumburu, Happiness

AU - Kiwelu, Ireen

AU - Ali, Mohamed

AU - Kazyoba, Paul

AU - Clausen, Philip L.C.

AU - Muro, Florida

AU - Mmbaga, Blandina T.

AU - Alifrangis, Michael

AU - Aarestrup, Frank M.

AU - Sonda, Tolbert

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Human astroviruses (HAstV) are emerging viral pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis worldwide, but whole-genome data from Africa, including from Tanzania, remains scarce. A genomic analysis of stools of children with diarrhea was performed using nanopore sequencing. We successfully assembled HAstV-MLB1 complete genomes from two different stool samples, achieving high sequence coverage of 354.75x and 769.94x, respectively. Analyses included phylogeny, synteny, comparative genomics, and structural characterization of the capsid protein. The two Tanzanian HAstV-MLB1 strains showed high genetic similarity to each other and clustered within the Melbourne-like virus (MLB1) clade and were most closely related (96% similarity) to the Australian reference strain. Both synteny and capsid structure analysis confirmed their conserved nature. This study presents the first whole-genome data from Tanzania. Our findings align with the previously reported genetic stability of HAstV, regional variability, and potential functional variation of the capsid protein, emphasizing the need for surveillance and functional characterization.

AB - Human astroviruses (HAstV) are emerging viral pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis worldwide, but whole-genome data from Africa, including from Tanzania, remains scarce. A genomic analysis of stools of children with diarrhea was performed using nanopore sequencing. We successfully assembled HAstV-MLB1 complete genomes from two different stool samples, achieving high sequence coverage of 354.75x and 769.94x, respectively. Analyses included phylogeny, synteny, comparative genomics, and structural characterization of the capsid protein. The two Tanzanian HAstV-MLB1 strains showed high genetic similarity to each other and clustered within the Melbourne-like virus (MLB1) clade and were most closely related (96% similarity) to the Australian reference strain. Both synteny and capsid structure analysis confirmed their conserved nature. This study presents the first whole-genome data from Tanzania. Our findings align with the previously reported genetic stability of HAstV, regional variability, and potential functional variation of the capsid protein, emphasizing the need for surveillance and functional characterization.

KW - Human astrovirus MLB1

KW - Whole-genome sequencing

KW - Tanzania

KW - Gastroenteritis

U2 - 10.1016/j.virol.2026.110861

DO - 10.1016/j.virol.2026.110861

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 41795259

SN - 0042-6822

VL - 619

JO - Virology

JF - Virology

M1 - 110861

ER -

Genomic characterization of a novel human astrovirus MLB1 variant from Tanzania

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

OpenUrl availability

Fingerprint

Cite this