# Genomic characterization of a novel sakobuvirus (family Picornaviridae) from a European badger (Meles meles) in Hungary

## TL;DR

Scientists discovered a new virus in badgers in Hungary, which is related to other similar viruses found in different animals.

## Contribution

A novel sakobuvirus genome was characterized from European badgers in Hungary, revealing unique genomic features.

## Key findings

- The virus has a type IV IRES and 'barbell-like' structures in its UTRs.
- The virus shares 82.8-80.4% amino acid identity with a related strain from Italy.
- This suggests sakobuviruses may circulate among badgers in different regions.

## Abstract

Since 2012, sakobuvirus and sakobuvirus-like (family Picornaviridae) sequences have been detected in felines, wild boars, badgers, and fur seals. In this study, we determined the genome sequence of a novel sakobuvirus identified in faecal samples from European badgers (Meles meles) in Hungary. The strain SakV/badger/B40B/2022/HUN (PQ382029) has a type IV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and'barbell-like' structures in its 5' and 3’UTRs, with a genomic layout that matches the L-1AB-1C-1D/2AH − Box/NC-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D structure. The most closely related strain, SaKoV/Badger/3A_2019/ITA (OP293080), shows 82.8%, 82.5%, and 80.4% amino acid sequence identity in the proteins P1, 2C, and 3CD, respectively, indicating that different sakobuviruses can potentially circulate among members of the same host species in geographically different regions.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00705-025-06234-4.