Comparative full length genome sequence analysis of Usutu virus isolates from Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Usutu virus (USUV), a flavivirus belonging to the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex, was identified in South Africa in 1959 and reported for the first time in Europe in 2001. To date, full length genome sequences have been available only for the reference strain from South Africa and a single isolate from each of Austria, Hungary, and Italy.

Methods

We sequenced four USUV isolates from Senegal and the Central African Republic (CAR) between 1974 and 2007 and compared the sequence data to USUV strains from Austria, Hungary, Italy, and South Africa using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method. We further clarified the taxonomic status of a USUV strain isolated in CAR in 1969 and proposed earlier as a subtype of USUV due to an asymetric serological cross-reactivit

SUBMITTER: Nikolay B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3716710 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature