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Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Restricted Thesis: Campus only access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

First Advisor

Dr. Eugene Wu

Abstract

Orthohantavirus bayoui (Bayou virus) is a rodent-borne virus found in Oryzomys palustris (marsh rice rat) populations along the southeastern coast of the United States. Due to challenges in obtaining viral sequences from field-derived tissues, the genomic, structural, and evolutionary characteristics of this virus are poorly understood. This study aims to genetically confirm O. palustris as the primary host while also characterizing the viral genome of Bayou virus, to better understand its evolution and diversity.

DNA from lung and kidney tissues was amplified and confirmed using PCR, Sanger sequencing, and BLAST for rodent host identification. Furthermore, viral RNA was subject to NextGen sequencing, SPAdes, BLAST, phylogenetic analysis, and protein structure analysis to investigate evolutionary relationships and structural characteristics of Bayou virus. Through this, it was confirmed with ~99% identity that the host and sampled species are O. palustris (marsh rice rat). Additionally, NextGen sequencing produced a continuous viral genome for the +control sample, which showed the closest similarity to O. bayoui (Bayou virus) in both identity and phylogenetic order.

This research provides genomic, phylogenetic, and structural analyses of Bayou virus (Orthohantavirus bayoui), while also reinforcing the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) as the host species. While limitations in viral sequencing from field-derived tissues highlight the challenges of viral genomic analysis, these findings establish a foundation for future research on viral transmission, population dynamics, and public health approaches to hantaviruses in general.

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