Madani TA, Azhar EI, Abuelzein ETME, Kao M, Al-Bar HMS, Farraj SA, Masri BE, Al-Kaiedi NA, Shakil S, Sohrab SS, SantaLucia J, Ksiazek TG. Complete genome sequencing and genetic characterization of Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus isolated from Najran, Saudi Arabia.
Intervirology 2014;
57:300-10. [PMID:
25096447 DOI:
10.1159/000362334]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV) is a newly described flavivirus first isolated in 1994-1995 from the Alkhumra district south of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, the virus was also isolated from Makkah (2001-2003) and Najran (2008-2009), Saudi Arabia.
METHODS
The full-length genome of an AHFV strain isolated from patients in Najran (referred to as AHFV/997/NJ/09/SA) was PCR amplified and sequenced, and compared with the sequences of 18 other AHFV strains previously isolated from Jeddah and Makkah, dengue virus (DENV), Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), Langat virus, Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV), and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV).
RESULTS
The RNA of the AHFV/997/NJ/09/SA strain was found to have 10,546 nucleotides encoding for a single 3,416-amino acid polyprotein, whereas the previously reported AHFV strains were composed of 10,685-10,749 nucleotides. The AHFV/997/NJ/09/SA strain showed about 99% homology with the previously reported AHFV strains. The KFDV, Langat virus, TBEV, and OHFV isolates formed a separate cluster with a variable homology. The most important variations were observed in the core protein and NS4a gene sequences of two AHFV isolates.
CONCLUSION
The variation in the number of nucleotides and phylogenetic analysis with the other AHFV isolates could have resulted from recombination of circulating virus strains.
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