A novel flavivirus detected in two Aedes spp. collected near the demilitarized zone of the Republic of Korea

J Gen Virol. 2017 May;98(5):1122-1131. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000746. Epub 2017 May 30.

Abstract

Flaviviruses comprise a large and diverse group of positive-stranded RNA viruses, including tick-, mosquito- and unknown-vector-borne flaviviruses. A novel flavivirus was detected in pools of Aedes vexans nipponii (n=1) and Aedes esoensis (n=3) collected in 2012 and 2013 near the demilitarized zone (DMZ), Republic of Korea (ROK). Phylogenetic analyses of the NS5, E gene and complete polyprotein coding sequence (CDS) showed that the novel virus fell within the Aedes-borne flaviviruses (ABFVs), with nucleotide identity ranging from 57.8-75.1 %, 46.1-74.2 % and 51.1-76.2 %, respectively. While the novel ABFV was distant from other flaviviruses within the group, it formed a clade with Ilomantsi virus (ILOV). Sequence alignments of the partial NS5 gene, full-length E gene and polyprotein CDS between the novel virus and ILOV showed approximately 76.2 % nucleotide identity and 90 % amino acid identity, respectively. The ABFV identified in Aedes mosquitoes from the ROK is a novel ABFV based on the sequence analyses and is designated as Panmunjeom flavivirus (PANFV).

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / virology*
  • Animals
  • Flavivirus / classification*
  • Flavivirus / isolation & purification*
  • Phylogeny*
  • Republic of Korea
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • NS5 protein, flavivirus
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins