Identification of new flaviviruses in the Kokobera virus complex.
Novel flavivirus isolates from mosquitoes collected in northern Australia were analysed by partial genomic sequencing, monoclonal antibody-binding assays and polyclonal cross-neutralization tests. Two isolates were found to be antigenically distinct from, but related to, viruses of the Kokobera virus complex, which currently contains Kokobera (KOKV) and Stratford (STRV) viruses. Nucleotide sequence comparison of two separate regions of the genome revealed that an isolate from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait in 2000 (TS5273) was related closely to KOKV and STRV, with 74-80 and 75-76 % nucleotide similarity, respectively. An isolate from mainland Cape York in 1998 (CY1014) was found to be more divergent from KOKV and STRV, with <70 % nucleotide sequence similarity to either virus. It is proposed that isolate TS5273 represents a new subtype of KOKV and that CY1014 be classified as a novel species within the Kokobera virus complex of flaviviruses, named New Mapoon virus.
Nisbet
Debra J
DJ
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Lee
Katie J
KJ
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
van den Hurk
Andrew F
AF
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Johansen
Cheryl A
CA
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Kuno
Goro
G
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA.
Chang
Gwong-Jen J
GJ
Arbovirus Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA.
Mackenzie
John S
JS
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Ritchie
Scott A
SA
School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia.|Tropical Public Health Unit, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia.
Hall
Roy A
RA
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001315:Australia; D003429:Cross Reactions; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
D000956:Antigens, Viral