title: Molecular characterization of M1146, an American isolate of Ljungan virus (LV) reveals the presence of a new LV genotype.
abstract: Ljungan virus (LV) is a suspected human pathogen recently isolated from bank voles in Sweden. This study describes the genetic characterization of a virus, M1146, which was isolated in 1962 from another vole species (Microtus montanus), trapped in Oregon, USA. Based on antigenic properties, M1146 was postulated previously as a putative member of the family PICORNAVIRIDAE: The near complete genomic sequence verifies that M1146 is a member of the Picornaviridae, most closely related to LVs isolated in Sweden. The strain M1146 possesses typical LV genomic organization, including a cluster of two 2A homologues. There are significant differences throughout the capsid protein region, while the non-structural region of M1146 is closely related to the Swedish LV genomes. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses show that M1146 represents a new genotype within the distinct LV cluster. Isolation of LV from both Swedish and American voles trapped over a period of 30 years suggests a continuous worldwide presence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, University of Kalmar, S-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: E Susanne
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Nya Apodemus, Grevgatan 38, S-114 53 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Niklasson
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, Centre for Tropical Diseases, Galveston, USA.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tesh
authors.affiliation: Picornaviral Research Unit, Discipline of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of Newcastle, David Maddison Clinical Sciences Building, Royal Newcastle Hospital, Newcastle, 2300 New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Shafren
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, Centre for Tropical Diseases, Galveston, USA.
authors.forename: Amelia P A
authors.initials: APA
authors.lastname: Travassos da Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, University of Kalmar, S-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: A Michael
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lindberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000821:virology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005838:Genotype; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009922:Oregon; D010802:Phylogeny; D010849:Picornaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013548:Sweden; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins