title: Evolutionary relationships of endemic/epidemic and sylvatic dengue viruses.
abstract: Endemic/epidemic dengue viruses (DEN) that are transmitted among humans by the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are hypothesized to have evolved from sylvatic DEN strains that are transmitted among nonhuman primates in West Africa and Malaysia by other Aedes mosquitoes. We tested this hypothesis with phylogenetic studies using envelope protein gene sequences of both endemic/epidemic and sylvatic strains. The basal position of sylvatic lineages of DEN-1, -2, and -4 suggested that the endemic/epidemic lineages of these three DEN serotypes evolved independently from sylvatic progenitors. Time estimates for evolution of the endemic/epidemic forms ranged from 100 to 1,500 years ago, and the evolution of endemic/epidemic forms represents relatively recent events in the history of DEN evolution. Analysis of envelope protein amino acid changes predicted to have accompanied endemic/epidemic emergence suggested a role for domain III in adaptation to new mosquito and/or human hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Watowich
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gubler
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017931:DNA Primers; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010802:Phylogeny; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D014764:Viral Proteins