New data from American Red Cross illuminate research in west nile virus genetics
December 23rd, 2008
2008 DEC 23 -- Data detailed in 'Genetic analysis of West Nile virus isolates from US blood donors during 2002-2005' have been presented. "Since its introduction into North America in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has spread rapidly across United States (US). To genetically analyze WNV isolates from US blood donors during 2002-2005," scientists in the United States report.
"Full-length nucleotide (NT) sequences of WNV isolates from 23 US volunteer blood donors of different geographic areas from 2002 to 2005 were determined and analyzed. Results indicated an overall lack of geographic pattern to WNV in US. Analyses of the viral genetic diversity demonstrated that the WNV evolved at approximately five NT substitutions and 0.8 amino acid (AA) mutations per genome per year. Comparison of the functional sequences of WNV genome showed a higher evolution rate in the coding region than in the non-coding region. Furthermore, a greater diversity was observed in the nonstructural proteins as compared to the structural proteins. Sequence alignment analysis revealed that the rapid spread of WNV in US was accompanied by the establishment of a dominant genetic variant with 11 conserved NT mutations," wrote Y. Tang and colleagues, American Red Cross.
The researchers concluded: "The establishment of a dominant genotype across US and the displacement and possible extinction of earlier progenitor genotypes appears to have resulted from the accumulation and fixation of 11 nucleotide mutations throughout the coding region of WNV genome."
Tang and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Clinical Virology (Genetic analysis of West Nile virus isolates from US blood donors during 2002-2005. Journal of Clinical Virology, 2008;43(3):292-7).
For more information, contact Y. Tang, Jerome H Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences, American Red Cross, Rockville, MD 20855 USA..
Publisher contact information for the Journal of Clinical Virology is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Keywords: United States, Rockville, West Nile Virus Genetics, Clinical Virology, Genetics, Genomics, Infectious Disease, Parasitic Disease, Vectors, Virology, West Nile Fever, West Nile Virus, Zoonoses.
This article was prepared by Health Risk Factor Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Health Risk Factor Week via NewsRx.com.
