Complete genome sequences and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus strains isolated from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
The complete nucleotide sequences of eight West Nile (WN) virus strains (Egypt 1951, Romania 1996-MQ, Italy 1998-equine, New York 1999-equine, MD 2000-crow265, NJ 2000MQ5488, NY 2000-grouse3282, and NY 2000-crow3356) were determined. Phylogenetic trees were constructed from the aligned nucleotide sequences of these eight viruses along with all other previously published complete WN virus genome sequences. The phylogenetic trees revealed the presence of two genetic lineages of WN viruses. Lineage 1 WN viruses have been isolated from the northeastern United States, Europe, Israel, Africa, India, Russia, and Australia. Lineage 2 WN viruses have been isolated only in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Lineage 1 viruses can be further subdivided into three monophyletic clades.
Lanciotti
Robert S
RS
Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA. rsl2@cdc.gov
Ebel
Gregory D
GD
Deubel
Vincent
V
Kerst
Amy J
AJ
Murri
Severine
S
Meyer
Richard
R
Bowen
Michael
M
McKinney
Nancy
N
Morrill
William E
WE
Crabtree
Mary B
MB
Kramer
Laura D
LD
Roehrig
John T
JT
D000818:Animals; D005060:Europe; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D014481:United States; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification