Partial 3D gene sequences of Coxsackie viruses reveal interspecies exchanges

Abstract

The 3D region of 46 clinical Coxsackievirus strains, primarily belonging to the human enterovirus B species (HEV-B), were analyzed using nucleotide distance matrices and phylogeny software. The conclusions from previously analyzed genomic regions (VP1-2A-2B-2C) of the aforementioned strains revealed that enteroviruses' inheritance is being guided by gene adaptation among viruses of different serotypes. In this report the comparison of partial VP1 and 3D gene phylogenies presented an obvious incongruence. Moreover, the phylogeny of 3D sequences of the strains revealed an unexpected (and for the first time reported) homology among strains of different species. The observations of our study indicate that conversion events such as multiple mutations or recombination among strains and unknown donors may occur during the evolution of circulating strains, leading, probably, to viruses with altered genome and virulence.