[Isolation and molecular characterization on Abbey Lake Orthobunyavirus (Bunyaviridae) in Xinjiang, China].
OBJECTIVE
To monitor and discover medically important mosquito-borne viruses circulating in Xinjiang, China.


METHODS
Mosquitoes were collected from Abbey Lake wetland in Bortala, in Northern Xinjiang. Viral isolates were obtained through inoculating and serial passaging into susceptible mammalian host cells (BHK-21), identified by cytopathogenic effect (CPE) observation and plague forming assay. Genetic identification of viral isolates was conducted by RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.


RESULTS
A virus strain which causing CPE on BHK-21 cells, was isolated from the predominant Culex modestus (36.6%) and tentatively designated as Abbey Lake virus. Information on molecular identification revealed that Abbey Lake virus belonged to Orthobunyavirus genus within Bunyaviridae. Partial sequences (651 bp and 980 bp) of viral genomic S and M segment showed that Abbey Lake virus was phylogenetically related to Germiston virus that uniquely found in South Africa with 90.6% nucleotides and 95.0% amino acids similarities in S segment. However, viral M segment displayed much variability with 78.6% nucleotides and 86.1% amino acid similarities, suggesting a new member of Orthobunyavirus genus was discovered in the area.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, Abbey Lake virus was isolated and characterized indicating its potential circulation nature of this newly-emerged mosquito-borne virus.
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Ran
R
Liu
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China. Email: xjglzhang@126.com.
Guilin
G
Zhang
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Xiang
X
Sun
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Zhong
Z
Zheng
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Xiaoming
X
Liu
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Yan
Y
Zhao
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Shuankui
S
Liu
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Rongli
R
Dang
Xinjiang Military Command Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi 830011, China.
Tongyan
T
Zhao
D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D014764:Viral Proteins