title: Analysis of hantavirus genetic diversity in Argentina: S segment-derived phylogeny.
abstract: Nucleotide sequences were determined for the complete S genome segments of the six distinct hantavirus genotypes from Argentina and for two cell culture-isolated Andes virus strains from Chile. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that, although divergent from each other, all Argentinian hantavirus genotypes group together and form a novel phylogenetic clade with the Andes virus. The previously characterized South American hantaviruses Laguna Negra virus and Rio Mamore virus make up another clade that originates from the same ancestral node as the Argentinian/Chilean viruses. Within the clade of Argentinian/Chilean viruses, three subclades can be defined, although the branching order is somewhat obscure. These are made of (i) "Lechiguanas-like" virus genotypes, (ii) Maciel virus and Pergamino virus genotypes, and (iii) strains of the Andes virus. Two hantavirus genotypes from Brazil, Araraquara and Castello dos Sonhos, were found to group with Maciel virus and Andes virus, respectively. The nucleocapsid protein amino acid sequence variability among the members of the Argentinian/Chilean clade does not exceed 5.8%. It is especially low (3.5%) among oryzomyine species-associated virus genotypes, suggesting recent divergence from the common ancestor. Interestingly, the Maciel and Pergamino viruses fit well with the rest of the clade although their hosts are akodontine rodents. Taken together, these data suggest that under conditions in which potential hosts display a high level of genetic diversity and are sympatric, host switching may play a prominent role in establishing hantavirus genetic diversity. However, cospeciation still remains the dominant factor in the evolution of hantaviruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA.
authors.forename: Marlene C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bohlman
authors.forename: Sergey P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Morzunov
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meissner
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Kimiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levis
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Enria
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: St  Jeor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D012377:Rodentia; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins