Dengue type 3 virus in plasma is a population of closely related genomes: quasispecies.
Using reverse transcription-PCR and clonal sequencing of the dengue virus envelope gene derived from the plasma samples of six patients, we reported for the first time that dengue virus circulates as a population of closely related genomes. The extent of sequence diversity varied among patients, with the mean pairwise proportions of difference ranging from 0.21 to 1.67%. Genome-defective viruses were found in 5.8% of the total number of clones analyzed. Our findings on the quasispecies nature of dengue virus and the defective virus in vivo have implications with regard to the pathogenesis of dengue virus.
Wang
Wei-Kung
WK
Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. wwang60@yahoo.com
Lin
Su-Ru
SR
Lee
Chao-Min
CM
King
Chwan-Chuen
CC
Chang
Shan-Chwen
SC
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003715:Dengue / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
C084188:E protein, Dengue virus type 3; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins