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Author (up) Cilnis, M.J.; Kang, W.; Weaver, S.C.
Title Genetic conservation of Highlands J viruses Type Journal Article
Year 1996 Publication Virology Abbreviated Journal Virology
Volume 218 Issue 2 Pages 343-351
Keywords Alphavirus/*genetics; Alphavirus Infections/transmission/veterinary/virology; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Conserved Sequence; Disease Outbreaks; Encephalitis, Viral/veterinary/virology; *Evolution, Molecular; Horses; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; RNA, Viral/genetics; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Turkeys; Variation (Genetics)/*genetics
Abstract We studied molecular evolution of the mosquito-borne alphavirus Highlands J (HJ) virus by sequencing PCR products generated from 19 strains isolated between 1952 and 1994. Sequences of 1200 nucleotides including portions of the E1 gene and the 3' untranslated region revealed a relatively slow evolutionary rate estimated at 0.9-1.6 x 10(-4) substitutions per nucleotide per year. Phylogenetic trees indicated that all HJ viruses descended from a common ancestor and suggested the presence of one dominant lineage in North America. However, two or more minor lineages probably circulated simultaneously for periods of years to a few decades. Strains isolated from a horse suffering encephalitis, and implicated in a recent turkey outbreak, were not phylogenetically distinct from strains isolated in other locations during the same time periods. Our findings are remarkably similar to those we obtained previously for another North American alphavirus, eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus, with which Highlands J shares primary mosquito and avian hosts, geographical distribution, and ecology. These results support the hypotheses that the duration of the transmission season affects arboviral evolutionary rates and vertebrate host mobility influences genetic diversity.
Address Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0116, USA
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0042-6822 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:8610461 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2657
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