Molecular evolution of the insect-specific flaviviruses.
There has been an explosion in the discovery of 'insect-specific' flaviviruses and/or their related sequences in natural mosquito populations. Herein we review all 'insect-specific' flavivirus sequences currently available and conduct phylogenetic analyses of both the 'insect-specific' flaviviruses and available sequences of the entire genus Flavivirus. We show that there is no statistical support for virus-mosquito co-divergence, suggesting that the 'insect-specific' flaviviruses may have undergone multiple introductions with frequent host switching. We discuss potential implications for the evolution of vectoring within the family Flaviviridae. We also provide preliminary evidence for potential recombination events in the history of cell fusing agent virus. Finally, we consider priorities and guidelines for future research on 'insect-specific' flaviviruses, including the vast potential that exists for the study of biodiversity within a range of potential hosts and vectors, and its effect on the emergence and maintenance of the flaviviruses.
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Shelley
S
Cook
Unité des Virus Emergents UMR190, Université de la Méditerranée, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, EHESP French School of Public Health, Marseille, France.
Gregory
G
Moureau
Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Andrew
A
Kitchen
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK.|Unité des Virus Emergents UMR190, Université de la Méditerranée, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, EHESP French School of Public Health, Marseille, France.
Ernest A
EA
Gould
Unité des Virus Emergents UMR190, Université de la Méditerranée, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, EHESP French School of Public Health, Marseille, France.
Xavier
X
de Lamballerie
Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.|Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Edward C
EC
Holmes
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Ralph E
RE
Harbach
D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007313:Insecta / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics
D012367:RNA, Viral