Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of West Nile Virus Isolate 2004Hou3.

ABSTRACT: West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus with important public health implications globally. This study characterizes a viral isolate, 2004Hou3, in comparison with the NY99 strain from the original WNV outbreak in New York, USA. NextGen sequencing was used to compare the viral isolates genetically, while wild-type C57/BL6 mice were used to compare pathogenicity and viral persistence. Significant differences in survival and clinical presentations were noted, with minor genetic variations between the two strains potentially offering an explanation. One notable difference is that 5 of 35 mice infected with the 2004Hou3 strain developed hind limb flaccid paralysis, suggesting its possible use as a small animal pathogenesis model for this clinical characteristic often observed in human WN neuroinv

SUBMITTER: Ronca SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6514990 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature