Nucleotide sequencing and serological evidence that the recently recognized deer tick virus is a genotype of Powassan virus.
Deer tick virus (DTV) is a recently recognized North American virus isolated from Ixodes dammini ticks. Nucleotide sequencing of fragments of structural and non-structural protein genes suggested that this virus was most closely related to the tick-borne flavivirus Powassan (POW), which causes potentially fatal encephalitis in humans. To determine whether DTV represents a new and distinct member of the Flavivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae, we sequenced the structural protein genes and 5' and 3' non-coding regions of this virus. In addition, we compared the reactivity of DTV and POW in hemagglutination inhibition tests with a panel of polyclonal and monoclonal antisera, and performed cross-neutralization experiments using anti-DTV antisera. Nucleotide sequencing revealed a high degree of homology between DTV and POW at both nucleotide (>80% homology) and amino acid (>90% homology) levels, and the two viruses were indistinguishable in serological assays and mouse neuroinvasiveness. On the basis of these results, we suggest that DTV should be classified as a genotype of POW virus.
Beasley
D W
DW
Department of Pathology, Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA.
Suderman
M T
MT
Holbrook
M R
MR
Barrett
A D
AD
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral; D003670:Deer / Q000469:parasitology; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005838:Genotype; D018884:Ixodes / Q000821:virology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D014709:Vero Cells; D014774:Virulence
D004279:DNA, Viral