title: Genetic divergence among members of the Kokobera group of flaviviruses supports their separation into distinct species.
abstract: The Kokobera virus group comprises mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cluster together phylogenetically. These viruses are unique to Australia and Papua New Guinea, and have been associated with a mild polyarticular disease in humans. Recent isolation of genetically diverse viruses within this group has prompted analysis of their genetic and phenotypic relationships. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete ORF, the envelope gene or the NS5/3' untranslated region supported the separation of the group into distinct species: Kokobera virus (KOKV), Stratford virus, New Mapoon virus, MK7979 and TS5273. Virulence studies in 3-week-old mice also provided the first evidence that a member of the KOKV group (MK7979) was neuroinvasive after intraperitoneal inoculation. In this context, our recent detection of KOKV group-specific antibodies in horses in the field suggests that these viruses should be considered in the epidemiology of flavivirus encephalitis in Australia.
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Fiona J
authors: FJ
authors: May
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: David C
authors: DC
authors: Clark
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Pham
authors: School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: Sinéad M
authors: SM
authors: Diviney
authors: School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: David T
authors: DT
authors: Williams
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Emma J
authors: EJ
authors: Field
authors: Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne and Enteric Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fort Collins 80521, CO, USA.
authors: Goro
authors: G
authors: Kuno
authors: Arboviral Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne and Enteric Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fort Collins 80521, CO, USA.
authors: Gwong-Jen
authors: GJ
authors: Chang
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Wai Yuen
authors: WY
authors: Cheah
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Yin X
authors: YX
authors: Setoh
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Natalie A
authors: NA
authors: Prow
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Jody
authors: J
authors: Hobson-Peters
authors: Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Roy A
authors: RA
authors: Hall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D009033:Culicidae / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D040961:Genetic Drift; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence