Nucleotide composition of the Zika virus RNA genome and its codon usage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

RNA viruses have genomes with a distinct nucleotide composition and codon usage. We present the global characteristics of the RNA genome of Zika virus (ZIKV), an emerging pathogen within the Flavivirus genus. ZIKV was first isolated in 1947 in Uganda, caused a widespread epidemic in South and Central America and the Caribbean in 2015 and has recently been associated with microcephaly in newborns.

Methods

The nearly 11 kb positive-stranded RNA genome of ZIKV was analyzed for its nucleotide composition, also in the context of the folded RNA molecule. Nucleotide trends were investigated along the genome length by skew analyses and we analyzed the codons used for translation of the ZIKV proteins.

Results

ZIKV RNA has a biased nucleotide composition in being pur

SUBMITTER: van Hemert F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4898363 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature